Red Bull promote Thai driver
Toro Rosso's Thai driver Alexander Albon looks on during the drivers' press conference ahead of the German Formula One Grand Prix at the Hockenheim racing circuit in Hockenheim on July 25, 2019. French Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly will be replaced at Red Bull by the Thai Alexander Albon starting from the Belgian Grand Prix, announced on August 12, 2019 his team. PHOTO | ANDREJ ISAKOVIC |
What you need to know:
- The 23-year-old is promoted from Red Bull's sister team Toro Rosso whilst Frenchman Pierre Gasly will go in the opposite direction
- Albon was signed up to the Red Bull Junior Team in 2012
- Albon has accrued 16 points in his maiden season in the championship with a best-placed sixth in the German Grand Prix
LONDON
Thai Formula One driver Alexander Albon was promoted Monday to race alongside Max Verstappen in the Red Bull team and has the rest of the season to make the move permanent.
The 23-year-old, born in England of a Thai mother, is promoted from Red Bull's sister team Toro Rosso whilst Frenchman Pierre Gasly will go in the opposite direction.
Albon's first drive for Red Bull will be the Belgian Grand Prix on September 1.
"Alexander Albon is being promoted to Aston Martin Red Bull Racing to drive alongside Max Verstappen, while Pierre Gasly will return to the Red Bull sister team, Scuderia Toro Rosso," read the team statement.
"The Team will use the next nine races to evaluate Alex's performance in order to make an informed decision as to who will drive alongside Max in 2020."
Albon - who was signed up to the Red Bull Junior Team in 2012 - has accrued 16 points in his maiden season in the championship with a best-placed sixth in the German Grand Prix.
Gasly, also 23, is in his second full season in Formula One - he competed in five Grand Prix in the 2017 campaign - and has garnered 63 points thusfar this term with fourth in the British Grand Prix his best performance.
