Red Bull never under pressure when choosing a driver: 'They had no alternative'

Red Bull Racing has chosen for 2021 to give Sergio Perez the opportunity to race for the team. Alexander Albon was given the entire season to prove himself in 2020, but was not allowed to keep his seat in the end.

Throughout 2020, Albon was already under pressure at Red Bull Racing. In the second half of 2019, the Thai hadn't done much wrong, but in 2020 he had to make a step to stay with Red Bull. In the end, he could not make that step. According to Helmut Marko he only went backwards.

Albon still seemed to have a chance

''In the autumn, during the races in Italy, the battle became more intense," says Marko to Motorsport-total.com. In that period Albon scored his first podium in Mugello, but he also had frustrating weekends in Monza and Sochi. Albon's chances became smaller by the minute.

Besides Albon's performance, the pressure from outside also increased. Perez spoke openly about his chances at Red Bull, but that never impressed Marko. ''We were in a comfortable situation, because Hulkenberg and Perez both had no alternative. So we didn't have to wait and told them to wait until the end of the season, then we would only decide," said Marko, who eventually had to disappoint Hulkenberg and Albon and gave Perez the seat.