Albon not yet fully fit: 'Going to need winter to come back'

Alexander Albon is still not fully recovered from his appendicitis earlier this year. Speaking to Motorsport.com the Williams driver says he is probably going to need the full winter break to get back to full strength.

Around the Italian Grand Prix, Albon was taken to hospital with appendicitis. He underwent surgery and could not take part in the race. Nyck de Vries was used as his replacement and managed to finish ninth. The operation was tough, Albon told at the time, but it had not caused any permanent damage.

The last six races Albon drove himself again

The following race in Singapore, Albon was able to take a seat in his own car again and the last five races of the season were also driven by Albon himself without any problems. Still, in terms of health, he is not yet back to the level he was at before his surgery, he says himself.

"Singapore was tough, in Japan I was at 75%, after that I felt pretty good," Albon says of his health. "But I will need the winter to get back to 100%. I haven't really had time to train and get back to that level of fitness, it takes time."

That Albon was not at his best in the last few races can also be seen in the results. Every race he completed in the final phase of the season he finished between spot ten and 15. Not a bad result given the meagre speed of the Williams, but Albon has shown in the first half of the season that he has more up his sleeve.