Albon: Hamilton would've overtaken me at Turn 1 anyway

Alexander Albon believes Lewis Hamilton would have overtaken him at Turn 1 on the final lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix had they not made contact. 

On the penultimate lap, the pair came together as they battled for second place, with Hamilton sending his car up the inside of Albon's.

Albon was spun around and sent to the rear of the field, while Pierre Gasly picked up the pieces to secure his first-ever podium finish.

Hamilton was handed a five-second time penalty for the contact, which bumped him off the podium and allowed Carlos Sainz to secure his first-ever top-three finish.

Speaking about the incident, Albon said: "I need to look back at it, to be honest. I felt like we came out of Turn 9 and I had some gap to Lewis and I thought 'okay we were okay where we are'.

"I was like I would go in a little bit hot just to cover him and make sure he doesn't get any ideas and of course you see it and once you dive there is a blind spot and you don't know how far alongside he is.

"I thought he was far back enough and I would give him some space but I didn't expect it really. I had the contact, it's kind of a thing where you just waiting for it and then it goes.

"It was a shame because I think he would have overtaken me anyway into Turn 1 because he had the fresher tyres and he was looking racy.

Albon doesn't believe that he lucked into having a shot at a podium finish, as he was able to hold back the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel at the safety car restart. 

"I'd say give myself positives," he said when asked how he will pick himself up. "I don't think we lucked into it. The battle with the Ferraris was good."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Ferrari
  • Points 3,545
  • Podiums 132
  • Grand Prix 233
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (41)
  • Place of b. Tewin, GB
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar