Thai-British driver Alexander Albon to drive Toro Rosso in 2019
The 22-year-old replaces Brendon Hartley at the Red Bull Formula One junior team.
British-born Thai racer Alexander Albon will complete the Toro Rosso driver line-up for 2019, the Formula One team confirmed on Monday. Albon, 22, was born in Britain but races under the Thai flag. He will replace New Zealander Brendon Hartley at the Red Bull junior team. He will partner the Russian driver Daniil Kyvat at Toro Rosso and will be the fourth Brit to line up on the grid next year. Albon is the first Thai racer in the F1 since Prince Bira in the 1950’s.
Albon: “Such an amazing feeling”
The Thai driver enjoyed an impressive junior career, finishing second behind Charles Leclerc in GP3 in 2016. This year, he finished third in feeder series Formula 2.
Regarding his Toro Rosso signing, Albon said: 'It's such an amazing feeling to know that I'm in Formula 1 next year. Throughout my single-seater career, I went through a few ups and downs. I was dropped by Red Bull in 2012, so from then I knew my road to Formula 1 was going to be a lot harder. I worked really hard and tried to impress every time I got in the car, and I have to say a big thank you to Red Bull and (motorsport boss) Helmut Marko for believing in me and giving me a second chance. I've always been motorsport mad and since I first got in a car it's been my dream to be in F1. To be given this opportunity is just incredible".
Currently, there is only one seat remaining on the F1 2019 grid. Belgian-Canadian racer Lance Stroll is set to be hired by Force India later in this week.