Alex Albon is sticking with Williams, and part of the reason is the reliability of Mercedes power.
Williams will continue to be powered by Mercedes through the significant regulation changes coming in 2026. With the chassis and power units set to see big updates, Alex Albon saw the continued partnership with Mercedes as a ‘safe bet.’ Given Mercedes’ track record, especially their dominance at the start of the turbo hybrid era in 2014, Albon felt confident in their ability to stay ahead of the curve.
Albon commented, ‘For sure it is, I think Mercedes time and time again, when it comes to these regulation changes, they seem to be one step ahead of their rivals. Not to say I don’t think other teams will do a good job, but I think it’s at least a safe bet. When you look at maybe the other midfield teams who are bringing in a new PU I’m sure they’re going to put in a lot of money to hit the ground running.’
He also expressed hope that even if Williams is still in a ‘building phase’ come 2026, they will have a very strong power unit to rely on. Multiple options were on the table for Albon regarding his future, but the familiarity with Williams and the leadership of team principal James Vowles were significant factors in his decision. ‘There were a few options on the table to choose where I wanted to be,’ Albon admitted. ‘When it came down to it, it just felt like the Williams route was firstly the one I know – I’ve been here a few years now – but also the one I believe in.’
The dynamic nature of the driver market also played a role in Albon’s choice, with constant movement and shifting opportunities. ‘The driver market is moving every week, it was moving every week when I signed my Williams deal. The more the year went on, it’s just one of those tricky situations, but the more that I believed in the team, in the project and the journey, and James was always reminding me of where we’re at so it kind of led to this natural decision.’
In the end, Albon’s decision to stay with Williams was influenced by several factors, but the reliability and performance promise of Mercedes power units played a crucial role.
Source: Planetf1
