Max Verstappen‘s teammate at Red Bull is having a tough time this season, and Alex Albon knows exactly how he feels.
“I see it now, and I understand the same feelings. I speak with Yuki a lot,” says Albon, who’s been through similar struggles himself.
Yuki Tsunoda has managed just nine points in 14 races since moving up to the main Red Bull team from Racing Bulls. The Japanese driver can’t seem to get comfortable with the RB21.
It’s a situation that feels all too familiar to Albon. Back in 2020, his own disappointing season at Red Bull led to a demotion to test and reserve driver.
“I empathize with it. I see it quite clearly,” the Thai-British driver explained on BBC’s F1: Chequered Flag podcast.
Alex Albon is currently sitting 8th in the drivers’ standings with 70 points.
“I think it is split in many ways. The time that I was at Red Bull, I joined six months into my F1 career, and I had just realized, in hindsight, I was in a predicament when I joined the team,” Albon reflected.
“I had a car that I was not comfortable with.”
“I didn’t have the experience to get myself out of it. I struggled with it, my experience level, and my maturity as a human being, to understand how to get out of that situation.”
Albon has maintained a close relationship with Tsunoda despite no longer being teammates.
“I see it now, and I understand the same feelings. I speak with Yuki a lot, and I try to help him in any way I can. We have a great relationship, and I love Yuki.”
Verstappen ‘the best driver ever in F1’
After his reserve role in 2021, Albon found new life at Williams starting in 2022. He’s been getting better each season, with his 70 points in 2025 showing just how far he’s come.
But he knows firsthand what Tsunoda faces sharing a garage with Verstappen.
“It’s hard. I think you have, on the other side of the garage, arguably, the best driver that has ever driven a Formula 1 car,” said Albon.
That’s quite a statement about the three-time world champion.
“That’s a big statement, I know, but I truly believe that. He can drive a car that is not comfortable to drive. He can hide a lot of problems, and he is the one who can clearly drive it.”
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