Alexander Albon will be replacing Pierre Gasly at Toro Rosso-Honda F1 team in 2019. He will be accompanying Daniil Kvyat on next year’s Formula 1 Grid.
Albon’s announcement filling the position at Toro Rosso depicts that only one announcement is left to fill the final seat on next years F1 grid.
Racing Point Force India Formula 1 team is reportedly decided to take Lance Stroll on board to fill the final position which shall be announced soon.
Acquiring Albon for the team was tricky as the former Red Bull protégé was committed to Nissan E.DAMS ABB FIA Formula E Championship team.
The Thai driver made to the top of Toro Rosso list at the time when his commitment with Nissan started. He was approached when Formula E pre-season testing started. This complicated his extradition from Nissan contract
Earlier this week, Autosport reported that the arrangements were finally made between the Nissan and Toro Rosso to launch Albon on F1 track. The official announcement was made by the team about Albon joining the team for next season.
Nissan is expected to replace Albon with Oliver Rowland in its FE team.
Toro Rosso on the deal
Franz Tost, Toro Rosso team principal, unfolded the reasons for signing the23-year-old Albon. He explained that his performance at Formula 2 led to this decision. He is the third driver to join Formula 1 this year with George Russel and Lando Norris.
“Alexander had an impressive Formula 2 season in 2018,” said Tost.
“He won four races and finished the championship third.
“The way he is able to overtake many of his rivals in the races shows that he is ready and matured to race in Formula 1.
“With Daniil and Alex we have two young, very strong and competitive drivers.”
Albon’s return to the Red Bull fold with Toro Rosso comes six years after he was dropped from the drinks firm’s junior programme.
“It’s such an amazing feeling to know that I’m in Formula 1 next year,” he said.
“Throughout my single-seater career, I went through a few ups and downs.
“I was dropped by Red Bull in 2012, so from then I knew my road to Formula 1 was going to be a lot harder.
“I worked really hard and tried to impress every time I got in the car, and I have to say a big thank you to Red Bull and Dr [Helmut] Marko for believing in me and giving me a second chance.
“I’ve always been motorsport mad and since I first got in a car it’s been my dream to be in Formula 1.
“To be given this opportunity is just incredible.”
