Williams F1 team boss James Vowles said that reports of Alexander Albon moving to Mercedes in replacement of outgoing Lewis Hamilton are “speculating at best.”
Hamilton will leave Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season, in a move that shocked not only the paddock but the entire sports world.
Immediately after, speculation began about George Russell’s next teammate at Mercedes when Hamilton departs, and many were pointing at Albon, a driver for Williams.
However, speaking with the media after the team livery launch in New York on Monday, Vowles said that “Alex is signed in Williams until the end of 2025, that’s signed.”
“It’s not something I’ve been very public about because I don’t feel the need to. So any reports that you are seeing… they are speculating at best,” he added.
“As I’ve also said publicly, it is our job in Williams to create an environment that deserves someone of the caliber of Alex.
“He is an incredible driver that deserves his place towards the front.”
Albon had previously competed with Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen but was sacked after failing to meet the Austrian’s squad performance objectives.
He later joined in 2022 alongside Nicholas Latifi, replacing Russell who had then moved to Mercedes.
“We put [Alex] in difficult positions and he overcome that to score points. He and I have good chats about where we want to move forward… We want to have our journey together in this team for a long time,” Vowles concluded.
When Reuters asked Albon about his contract, he sounded less certain about his future past 2024 with the team. “Let’s see. Time will tell,” he said.
“Realistically, I want to be with the team. If the team is where I want it to be, it will be a long-term contract.”