DTM as springboard to F1? 'Albon shows it is possible'

Yesterday the news finally came out that Alexander Albon will be driving next year for Williams alongside Nicholas Latifi. The rumours have been circulating for a while, but confirmation has not come till now. There was a reason for that.

Red Bull have been afraid that Mercedes would try to prevent Albon from joining Williams, while Toto Wolff was not willing to let a Red Bull driver join Williams. However, the parties eventually reached an agreement and Albon will remain a part of Red Bull despite his seat at Williams. As of 2023 it is quite possible that Albon will be called back by Red Bull.

DTM a step up to F1?

Before Albon's seat at Williams was confirmed, he was mainly active behind the simulator at Red Bull and in the DTM. There he raced a Ferrari alongside Liam Lawson, another Red Bull driver.

DTM boss Gerhard Berger says the DTM can play a big role in a driver's development and that he thinks it won't be long before Lawson follows his teammate. "Albon is showing that the DTM can also serve as a springboard for Formula 1. I think Lawson will be the next one we will see in the king class (F1)."

Whether this will happen is another question. For next season there is really only one seat left at Alfa Romeo, and Lawson is not associated with that. If he is to follow Albon's lead, it will have be next year.