The Red Bull Racing team has decided to keep their options open in terms of their future with Alex Albon, as he prepares for his big return in 2022.
The Thai driver will be returning to the grid with Williams Racing in 2022 after a year away, acting as Reserve for Red Bull.
Red Bull has said that although they have agreed to release the driver from their grips next season, they will “retain a relationship with him that includes future options”.
Horner told the official Formula One website; “It means that we have a good relationship with Alex, he retains a link to Red Bull, and we would have an option on his services should they be required in 2023.
“He was effectively out of contract at the end of next year anyway, so basically what we have done is speed that process up and secure future options on him.”
The team boss has said although they will be sad to see the young driver leave them for a competitor, the team is keen to see him back on the grid racing.
“He’s done a great job behind the scenes, he’s been very much involved in next year’s car,” he said. “He signed the Williams agreement and then was straight back on the simulator late into the evening putting the hours in.
“We’ll be working him hard between now and the end of the year.
“The amount of hours he’s done in the sim has been insane, but it’s all part of, and adding to, what we’re managing to achieve on track this year.
“What I’ve been impressed with is the way he’s embraced that role, from the moment he was informed after Abu Dhabi last year, [and that’s] one of the reasons we were particularly keen to help him get a seat back in F1.”
He concluded; “We’ll miss his input into that next year, but we have Juri Vips and Liam Lawson doing a great job. We still have Sebastien Buemi under contract, Jake Dennis has been doing a great job for us as well. So we have strength and depth within the simulation squad.”
