17 October 2023 , 14:54
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Red Bull should target Alex Albon as they search for a replacement for Sergio Perez, according to Nico Rosberg.
Perez is under contract with Red Bull until 2024, but his place is under threat due to some poor form this season. The 33-year-old won two of the four opening races of the season but has dropped off dramatically, leaving his team-mate Max Verstappen unchallenged in wrapping up another title.
He has five races left this season to try and convince Red Bull to back him, but team principal Christian Horner has admitted that there has been “quite a bit of interest” in his position. AlphaTauri trio Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson offer in-house replacements from Red Bull’s sister company, while McLaren star Lando Norris has also been touted.
However, former world champion Rosberg believes Albon has what it takes to fill Perez’s seat. The 27-year-old previously spent 18 months as Verstappen’s team-mate at Red Bull before joining his current team Williams in 2022.
“Albon would also be a dream candidate actually for the Red Bull mother team for next year to replace Sergio Perez,” Rosberg told Sky Sports F1. “But unfortunately, as Helmut Marko was saying, Albon is locked in with a long-term contract there at Williams.”
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Speaking to Autosport last month, Albon suggested he would be open to leaving Williams for other opportunities. “I think I have the confidence in myself to keep myself open,” he said. “There's a balance really. Being totally honest, I want to see this team and I want to be part of a team that brings this team forward.
“I think the rate of progress that we're having here at Williams and seeing what's happening behind the scenes is great. I'm fully committed to the team until my contract pretty much ends. But I am also 27. Although I'm not young, I'm also not old.
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"And I do feel like I am in a good part of my career. If you take another year I'm 28, then 29 going onto 30 soon. I want to give myself the chance to be able to fight for wins and fight for podiums. And what it comes down to is, at that time and in that time, can we bring this team to be that team?”
Albon may well be tempted to join Red Bull. He has won just 23 points for Williams this season and sits 13th in the driver standings ahead of the United States Grand Prix on October 22.
Speaking about potential replacements for Perez, Horner said: “There's some great talent out there and of course what we want is the best two drivers we can possibly field. So ideally that will come from within the talent pool that we have, and if we don't believe there's that capability we will look outside of that as to who's available."