Alex Albon impresses after first Williams Racing Test

For Alex Albon 2021 would see him still part of the Red Bull F1 team playing a role in their development work as well as racing in the DTM championship. But it would then be announced by the Williams Racing Team that he would be joining the team for the 2022 Formula One season.

Now with the first round of pre-season testing completed at the Barcelona circuit it was the teams and its supporters first opportunity to see Alex behind the wheel of the 2022 FW44. Given the fact that it was his first run with the team after what was a lengthy break from full time driving in Formula one many were impressed with his performances across the three days of testing.

One such person was Williams Chief Executive Jost Capito who in recent interviews spoke of how impressed he has been Alex's performances both in the car and also outside in his dealings with other members of the team as they worked through their test programme.

After the three days of testing Alex would finish consistently ahead of team-mate Nicholas Latifi with the pair close to the top ten, not that a lot could be read into the lap times achieved. Alex would complete an impressive 207 laps over the course of the three days.

In a recent interview for Germany's Motorsport-Total Capito would comment on Alex's performance coming off his first run with his new team. Overall Jost was impressed by this new recruit.

Capito added: "He gives very good information and is very good at evaluating the car."

"He is relaxed, has a good feeling for the car and works well with the engineers and the team.

"I think he has just the right balance of being a nice guy on the one hand, but then finding the necessary aggressiveness in the car and pushing.

"He's a fighter. I expected him to fit in really well with the team, but he even exceeded my expectations."

But we would also get to hear from Alex about how he found his new boss and his new team.

Speaking on Jost Alex said: "He's just the same away from the media, a great guy."

As for the team Alex added: "There's also fresh investment from Dorilton, and they're also very, very motivated and positive people. That's a great combination.

"I have the feeling we have a recipe for a great season and a great future at Williams."

As for how he found the new FW44 after his first run in the car Alex was positive in his comments saying that the new FW44 offered a "healthy basis for the rest of the season".

He added: "There’s nothing that particularly stands out, and that’s always a good sign."

"Also, the new rules are good for me because everyone else is starting from scratch.

"I’m still a bit rusty, but I’m slowly shaking off this rust. I'm feeling better with every lap."

As for what he can bring to the Williams Racing Team Alex felt that he wants to assume a leadership role within the team and to work with the team and team-mate Nicholas Latifi to develop the FW44 "in the best possible way".

Alex added: "I’ve had a year to mature. It’s been a short year, but I’ve had the opportunity to question myself and see what I can do better .

"That’s where I learned to manage things a bit more myself. And that’s how I want to approach this year."