Albon completes Toro Rosso 2019 line-up

Toro Rosso have confirmed that Alexander Albon will partner Daniil Kvyat in the team in 2019. Albon finished third in the Formula 2 championship in 2018 and has made the step up to Formula 1 after cancelling a contract to drive in Formula E with Nissan.

Albon replaces Brendon Hartley after the Kiwi failed to impress in his first full F1 season - only Williams' Sergey Sirotkin scored fewer points than the two-time WEC champion.

Nissan confirmed Albon as a driver for their FE team back in September, when the likes of Pascal Wehrlein and Mick Schumacher were also being linked to the Red Bull junior squad.

It was reported that Red Bull may have had to pay compensation to Nissan in order to secure Albon's release, but Helmut Marko suggested over the Abu Dhabi GP weekend that was not the case.

"It's such an amazing feeling to know that I'm in Formula 1 next year." Albon 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 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."

I really don’t think there are words to describe how excited and proud I am to be driving for Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2019. It was an uphill battle to be on the grid this year and to be given the opportunity to be in F1 is surreal! (1 of 2) pic.twitter.com/dxMqpwxuv6 — Alex Albon (@alex_albon) November 26, 2018

So many people to thank - Red Bull for giving me a 2nd chance, JP Driot for giving me the possibility in F2 and everyone at Nissan e.dams for allowing me to follow my dream. Also to my sponsors,my family,my trainers,Gwen Lagrue and Dan Chapman.Going to give this everything ????????2/2 pic.twitter.com/h4FkxG5hLz — Alex Albon (@alex_albon) November 26, 2018

It is unclear for now when Albon will make is Toro Rosso debut, with Kvyat and Sean Geleal scheduled to take part in this week's post-season 2019 tyre test in Abu Dhabi.

Albon's arrival will give Toro Rosso's line-up a strange look with both he and Kvyat having previously been cut from the Red Bull programme.

Kvyat was dropped last year after suffering a dismal second stint at Toro Rosso following demotion from Red Bull to make way for Max Verstappen, while Albon was dropped as a teenager.

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