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Alex Albon says he has been studying Max Verstappen’s approach to wet-weather driving as Formula 1 heads into a potentially rain-hit weekend at Interlagos. The Williams driver believes Verstappen’s precision and adaptability in tricky conditions could provide the blueprint for success in Brazil.
Learning from the best
With rain forecast throughout the São Paulo Grand Prix weekend, Albon expects conditions to change rapidly. “Max is probably the best out there when it comes to racing in the wet,” he told reporters on Thursday. “He’s always very smooth on the throttle and keeps the tyres alive even when the track is changing every lap. That’s something I’ve been analysing — it’s about control, not aggression.”
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The Thai-British driver, who partnered Verstappen at Red Bull in 2020, says that experience helped him understand what separates the Dutchman from the rest. “You can watch the data all you like, but when you see how early Max commits to a line and how confident he is when grip levels are unpredictable, it’s something else. There’s a rhythm to his driving that you can’t fake.”
Williams eyeing crucial points
For Williams, Brazil represents a chance to recover from a difficult stretch. The team remains locked in a tight midfield battle, aiming to defend fifth place in the Constructors’ standings from Haas and Sauber. “Every point counts,” Albon said. “We haven’t been where we wanted in recent races, but a chaotic sprint weekend in the rain might be exactly what we need.”
Team principal James Vowles echoed the sentiment, stressing that adaptability will be key. “Interlagos rewards confidence and precision. If it rains, strategy and tyre calls will matter more than outright pace,” he said.
Sprint adds extra tension
The São Paulo weekend is one of the few remaining sprint rounds, adding another layer of complexity. With just one practice session before qualifying, drivers must quickly dial in their setups. Albon says that’s where Verstappen-style confidence in variable grip can make the difference. “It’s about feeling the car underneath you,” he explained. “In the wet, you can’t overthink it — you have to trust the balance and react.”
Having previously impressed in wet conditions — notably scoring points in a slippery Montreal and fighting through the field in Zandvoort — Albon is quietly confident. “If the rain comes, it could mix things up. We just need to be ready to capitalise,” he said with a smile.
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