Alex Albon's path through Formula 1 has been nothing short of complicated when you stack it against his Formula 2 rivals Lando Norris and George Russell. All three graduated to F1 in 2019, but their journeys couldn't have been more different. Norris landed at McLaren, Russell started with Williams, and Albon signed with Toro Rosso before getting the call up to Red Bull mid-season. While it seemed like the perfect opportunity at the time, those 18 months at Red Bull nearly derailed his entire career.

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The Thai driver struggled massively to adapt to life alongside Max Verstappen, managing just two podiums before losing his seat in 2021. He dropped off the grid entirely, only returning to the sport with Williams in 2022. By then, Russell had already moved to Mercedes and the pair of them started their climb toward the front of the grid. Now, Norris has won 12 races and claimed the 2025 championship, while Russell's picked up seven victories and is firmly established as a Mercedes cornerstone.

When asked if he felt jealous watching their success unfold, Albon didn't shy away from the question. He told Autosport that he rated both drivers from their F2 days and genuinely appreciated that era of racing. 'I look at Lando's performances and George's performances as a supporter as well in many ways,' he said. He reflected on how that F2 season pushed all of them harder and probably got the best out of everyone involved, which ultimately helped when they all moved up to the grid.

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But here's the thing, Albon isn't dwelling on what could've been. He acknowledged that he was probably given his top team chance too early and that he's now focused on a completely different challenge at Williams. 'I've got a different project on my hands now and that's bringing this team forward,' he explained. 'We're on different career paths. I don't look at those two and I'm not jealous of them.' He remains hopeful that somewhere down the road, the three of them can battle it out again on track.

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It's a mature take from someone who's been through the wringer in this sport. Williams are struggling under the 2026 regulations with Albon scoring just five points at the season's halfway point, but he's keeping faith that better days are coming. That's the mentality of a driver who knows what he's capable of when everything clicks into place.

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