F1 News: Alex Albon Reveals Crucial Advice From Former Boss - "Don't Give A F**k"
Williams driver Alex Albon shared the invaluable guidance he received from ex-Formula 1 Team Principal Franz Tost during his initial season.
Key Takeaways:
- Alex Albon credits Franz Tost, his former Team Principal at Toro Rosso, for providing the most impactful advice at the onset of his F1 career.
- Tost's counsel, "Don't give a f**k," was aimed at fostering a resilient mindset amidst the pressures of Formula 1.
- Albon's reflection on this advice underscored its significance during challenging periods, emphasising the need for self-focus and resilience.
Williams F1
Alex Albon recently disclosed the profound advice that has guided him through his tumultuous time in F1. This advice wasn't about technique or strategy; it was about mindset and attitude, given by none other than Franz Tost, the seasoned Team Principal who concluded his 18-year tenure with Red Bull sister team AlphaTauri (formerly Toro Rosso and now Visa Cash App RB) at the close of 2023.
Albon explained during an appearance on the High Performance podcast:
"The best piece of advice I got given, which was at the start of F1 career, was by a team boss called Franz Tost.
"At the time the team was called Toro Rosso and he's an elder man, but he's gone through it. He's been at it from the ground up. One of them 'get your hands dirty' kind of guys.
"He was talking to me about F1 when I was a rookie and he said 'Alex, if there's one thing you need to learn about F1, it's to don't give a f**k'.
"It sounds so simple, it doesn't sound that deep, but it's so true. I didn't really understand it until I went through the tough times. That's when we talk about this putting yourself first and being selfish."
This philosophy became particularly relevant for Albon as he navigated the highs and lows of his career. Despite a rapid ascent to Red Bull, replacing Pierre Gasly, Albon found himself in the challenging position of matching the performance of his teammate, Max Verstappen, before ultimately being replaced by Sergio Perez. Albon continued:
"That's when I really started to understand what he meant. Because at the time it was like 'I don't really give a f**k' but actually, I do. I think I cared too much at the beginning," said Albon.
"It was strange for a team boss to say that, because at the end of the day he wants you to care about the team, he wants you to care about the image of the team, but he wasn't like that. He said 'You put yourself first' and then that's it."