One of the last remaining seats for the 2019 Formula 1 season at Toro Rosso now has a confirmed driver. To be vacated by New Zealander Brendon Hartley, the seat at the Faenza, Italy-based team will now accommodate London-born Thai Formula 2 star Alexander Albon. He will join Daniil Kvyat in Toro Rosso’s 2019 driver line-up, with Pierre Gasly going up to Red Bull.
Albon, 22, has come from a Formula 2 title fight which went all the way to the end-of-season Abu Dhabi race as one of two drivers who stood to win the championship at that point. However, he ended the season third overall behind champion George Russell and second placed Lando Norris. All three will now move on to Formula 1 for the 2019 season, with Russell landing a seat with Williams, and Norris bound for McLaren.
The Thai driver had one season in the Red Bull Junior Programme in 2012 prior to Formula 2, and more recently had appeared set to race in the next season of Formula E. Now that Albon is confirmed for Toro Rosso, he will be the first Thai racer on the premier grid since Prince Bira in 1955.
“The way he is able to overtake many of his rivals in the races shows that he is ready and matured to race in Formula 1. Scuderia Toro Rosso is very much looking forward to 2019, as with Daniil and Alex we have two young, very strong and competitive drivers,” said Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost.
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Meanwhile, Malaysia ex F1 driver Alex Yoong …..
Atleast we are the 2nd country from Asia that have a F1 driver. Now Thai is the 5th country behind India and Indonesia.
Has an Indonesian raced in F1?
Thais already have their F1 driver in 1955, even before malaysia is merdeka. They are the 1st F1 dricees from asia, the 1st japanese F1 driver is only in 1975.
Thai had an F1 racer in the 1950s. Prince Birabongse Bhanudej raced for Gordini & Maserati from 1948-1955
not sure about that. (sic) Prince Bira in 1955
It is a given, as Redbull origin is from Thailand and the company is half owned by thais.
When Thai cronies owns overseas sports entities, they win English Premier Leagues and Formula Ones.
When Malaysian cronies owns overseas sports entities, they get relegated or close shop.
Yup. Leicester EPL champ
Malaysia don’t know how to run F1 or make money from it. Business skills not good with Jaguh Kampung
That’s the problem when nonM runs their sports outfits. Look at how successful JDT is.
Cardiff City owns by TS Vincent Tan won Championship before they went up to EPL dude. Poor Msia to have a narrow minded citizen like you.
And where are they now, narrow minded citizen? Oh stuck 2nd from bottom, and soon to be in a relegation fight once again. Meanwhile QPR is languishing midtable in League2. And what happened to Lotus Racing F1 btw?
So was I wrong?