Alex Albon eyes IndyCar "opportunity" as F1 backup

Red Bull

Albon eyes IndyCar "opportunity" as F1 backup

Albon is Red Bull's F1 reserve driver this year

Sam Hall

Saturday 14 August 2021 15:12

Alex Albon has visited the IndyCar paddock as he evaluates his options in case there is a "lack of opportunity" to make a return to F1 in 2022.

Albon is Red Bull's F1 reserve driver this season after losing his seat to Sergio Perez over the winter.

The British-Thai driver is also racing in DTM alongside his commitments but Albon is keen to explore what opportunities are around before finalising his 2022 plans.

Article continues under video

After being photographed sitting in a Dale Coyne Racing IndyCar at Indianapolis, Albon said: “I want to see what’s out there.

“My main goal is to be in F1, but there’s never 100 per cent certainty on that, so you got to have plan B and C to see what else is out there.

“I’ve always had that interest within IndyCar. You see it on the rise now, especially with the viewership and everything going up."

“Honestly, it’s more just hard to say if it’s something I would want to be doing," he added.

"I’m seeing a few teams out there right now. I want to chat with them and see what’s out there so I can decide what I am going to do.

“Let’s just say, obviously, if the right opportunity is there, or let’s say the lack of opportunity is there in F1, and there’s an opportunity here that’s a good opportunity with a good team, and if in these next few days I think it’s something I would enjoy, obviously then the odds [of racing IndyCar] go up."

Grosjean smile "interesting to see"

Albon has been encouraged by the quick integration of Romain Grosjean into the IndyCar paddock with the Frenchman standing on the Indianapolis podium earlier this season.

Grosjean made the move Stateside after an unbroken nine-year spell in F1 with Lotus and Haas.

“Seeing Romain [Grosjean], as well, seeing what he’s doing, it’s been really interesting to see," Albon said.

“I just wanted to see what he thinks about it. Is he happy? Of course, he’s happy.

"He’s always got a smile on his face. How was that transition for him, and how did he feel in IndyCar straight away? He looks very comfortable here.”