Williams sign Albon to partner Latifi for 2022 F1 season 

The 25-year-old ex-Red Bull racer will partner Nicholas Latifi, who has been retained by Williams for a third campaign. 

Williams has signed Albon as George Russell’s replacement, with the Briton earning graduation to Mercedes alongside seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. 

Albon made his F1 debut with AlphaTauri under its former Toro Rosso guise in 2019 and was promoted to Red Bull’s senior team just 12 races into his rookie campaign in a seat swap with Pierre Gasly. 

Following a difficult first full-season alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, Albon lost his seat to Sergio Perez at the end of 2020. 

The Anglo-Thai racer has since been combining a reserve driver role with Red Bull alongside racing in the DTM championship in 2021. 

But after a year on the F1 sidelines, Albon has now secured a return for 2022. 

“I am really excited and looking forward to returning to a Formula One race seat in 2022," Albon said. "When you take a year out of F1 it’s never certain you will make a return so I’m extremely thankful to Red Bull and Williams for believing in me and helping me on my journey back to the grid.

"It’s also been great to see all the progress Williams have been making as a team this year and I look forward to helping them continue that journey in 2022. My focus now returns to my Test & Reserve Driver role at Red Bull and helping the team fight for this year’s world championship.”

As had been expected, Williams also confirmed a contract extension for Latifi as reward for a much-improved sophomore F1 season. 

The Canadian, 26, scored his first F1 points for Williams with a brilliant drive to seventh at the Hungarian Grand Prix. He followed that up with another points finish with ninth place in the rained-off Belgian Grand Prix. 

Alongside Russell, Latifi has helped Williams leapfrog its main rivals Haas and Alfa Romeo into eighth place in the 2021 constructors’ championship. 

“I’m excited to be continuing with Williams for another year; partly because of F1's new technical regulations, but also because the team is moving in a more competitive direction with new owners, management and people on the technical side," Latifi added. 

“I’ve felt at home here since the day I arrived, and I think I’m in the right place to continue with my positive trajectory. The aim is to continue making little improvements so we can all take advantage of the opportunity we have next year.

“I’m super excited to work with next year’s car and it’s like a fresh start for everybody. I feel privileged to be part of that change.”