F1 Rumour: Alex Albon On Ferrari Radar As Carlos Sainz Replacement

Ferrari is keeping its options open.

There are speculations suggesting that Ferrari is contemplating Alex Albon, the Williams driver, and rising talent, as a potential replacement for Carlos Sainz if ongoing negotiations for the extension of Sainz's contract beyond 2024 do not reach a favorable outcome.

According to F1.com, Ferrari is presently giving precedence to extending Charles Leclerc's contract over Carlos Sainz's. Despite Sainz being the only non-Red Bull driver on the grid to secure a Grand Prix victory in 2023 by winning the Singapore Grand Prix last year, the team seems to be prioritizing Leclerc's contract extension. Both Leclerc and Sainz have contracts that conclude after the 2024 season.

Ferrari Press Image

Thus, his demand in the driver market must be at an all-time high, but Ferrari will focus on Sainz's contract only after it has dealt with Leclerc. One reason could be his wish to stay with the outfit until the end of 2026, the year when Formula 1 steps into a new era of regulations. 

Alex Albon- The Face of Williams

However, Alex Albon is eager to untie himself from the shackles of his Williams contract after two unnamed teams contacted him last year, as reported by ESPN.com. It could be the case that he is being considered by Ferrari as Sainz's replacement, in case the negotiations on his agreement don't reach an amicable conclusion. 

One can say that Albon was the sole driver to steer Williams into the seventh spot in the Constructors' Championship since he scored 27 of the team's 28 points. Thus, he is desired by many teams as he ranks high in value. 

Even with the awareness that his contract concludes at the end of this year, he is open to extending his F1 journey with Williams. This is particularly true if he continues to play a central role in the team's ongoing transformation initiatives led by James Vowles, who assumed leadership last year. Vowles' emphasis has been on enhancing the team's infrastructure, refining processes, and strengthening the staff to meet the current standards in Formula 1.

Therefore, we could witness concrete developments in the driver lineup in the coming months if Ferrari and Sainz fail to reach an agreement over his contract extension.