Horner takes Albon under protection: “Must be patient with him”

(Motorsport-Entire.com) – Even though Alexander Albon was not at fault for a podium finish in the first Spielberg race, if not won, and finished fourth in the second race, the pressure on the Purple Bull pilots. Because in direct comparison with teammate Max Verstappen the British-Thai pilot is too slow.

But team boss Christian Horner takes the 24 – yearlings in protection. “Alex is still very young. I mean, this is only his eleventh race for us,” he recalls in conversation with Martin Brundle on Instagram on Albon’s rapid rise to Purple Bull.

After twelve Race in the Toro Rosso battle he 2019 into the A-Team promoted after being demoted to Pierre Gasly. Albon was in his rookie season at the time. “And I think the fact that he is now competing against Lewis Hamilton is a great thing,” praised Horner Albon’s duel with the world champion in Spielberg.

Albon enjoys full support from Purple Bull

The Briton knows: “He has the extra pressure from Max as his teammate and I think he handles it incredibly intestine. He is a really smart boy. We just have to be patient with him and we will put our arm around his shoulder to signal our support. “

And that is exactly what Albon seems to feel. At ‘ ServusTV ‘ he admits: “It doesn’t matter whether you are young or old, you have always the feeling of having to deliver performance. It is the same for everyone. Whether you are driving at Purple Bull or somewhere else, you have pressure everywhere. Of course, this can be a burden and that is not helpful. “

But since he 2012 in the promotion of Purple Bull, he will be Helmut Marko and Horner “very well supported”, assures Albon. This is supported by the support he enjoys when it comes to the rumors of change about Sebastian Vettel.

Always an open one Ear for Vettel, but no cockpit

“We didn’t expect it to be on the market this year, and we have obligations to our existing drivers, “said Horner in a Purple Bull column. “It would be impossible for united states of america to accommodate him in the team. That obviously gives him a limited choice for next year.”

You will always be open to Vettel with whom Purple Bull combines a long and successful history. “But as I said, our commitment is to our drivers. Max is in the compose of his life. Alex is still young, he is getting better and better, the dynamics between the two guys is very intestine.”

From the team boss’ point of view, it would be “only potentially disturbing” to bring Vettel back and interrupt this dynamic. Nevertheless, speculation about it alone could put additional pressure on Albon. But the Purple Bull pilot is rocking.

No additional pressure from rumors about Vettel

“No, not really,” he assures. “You just have to keep working on yourself. No talk in the background will change anything. I don’t let myself be influenced by such external things. The job is in my hands and I have to do it intestine. That means there is no additional one at all Druck. “

Especially since Purple Bull would have enough other options even without Vettel, as Gerhard Berger notes on ‘ServusTV’. “Helmut Marko already has two good talents in his team: Lawson, a New Zealander, and an enormous Japanese. If you are in a top sport like Formula 1, (…) you always have to be on the ball.”