Christmas turkey would taste better with Red Bull for Alex Albon

Red Bull

Christmas turkey would taste better with Red Bull for Albon

Driver hoping F1 future wish has come true before Christmas Day

Ian Parkes & Will Gray

Saturday 12 December 2020 18:14

Alex Albon has conceded it will be impossible to stop thinking about his future during Christmas dinner if Red Bull fails to confirm its plans for 2021 before the festive period.

There are no prizes for guessing Albon's Christmas wish this year, with the under-pressure driver left hanging for months while his team decides whether or not to replace him Sergio Perez for 2021.

Team principal Christian Horner has consistently backed Albon throughout what has been a turbulent season, but with recent race-winner Perez proving his worth time and again, the team has been slow in making a final decision.

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Asked how soon after the season's final race the team is likely to inform him of its plans for next year, Albon said: "No, I don't. I will just do the race and go home for Christmas and we will see.

"It would be nice to know, but it's the holidays after this so I will be spending it with family. There are no more races after this one so I won't be thinking about it too much. Well, of course, I will be thinking about it, but I will be eating turkey and stuff."

It is unusual for any driver to enter the final race of a season without knowing what their future holds, especially in a year where so a few had cemented moves before the campaign had started.

Albon, who qualified fifth on the grid for Sunday's season finale in Abu Dhabi, conceded he was used to being in this situation heading into the winter months, and said all that is left for him is to sign off with the best race he can achieve.

"I mean, truthfully, it doesn't change too much," he added. "I have been in this position many a time, not knowing what I am going to be doing at this time of the year. It doesn't change how I go into the race.

"Having a good day [in qualifying] is positive. I would have wanted it to have been a bit better, but on my side, it is more about doing the best job I can and doing everything in my control that I can do to get the seat next year."