After Alex Albon failed to help Max Verstappen with his performance, Red Bull found it incredibly hard to part ways with the Thai driver in 2020. Even though it looked like a simple decision from the outside, the $27 billion worth family made it all hard for the Austrian F1 team to replace Albon.
As Verstappen settled in Red Bull, all he needed was to win the championship. Red Bull’s taskmaster Helmut Marko had nothing in mind but to help the young Dutchman reach his destiny, and this is where he brought in Albon.
LAP 3/53
Problems for Red Bull
Max Verstappen suffers damage to his front wing, and Alex Albon is forced wide into the gravel#F1 #ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/WKE6I9COFn
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 8, 2019
With Red Bull doing their bit to be closer to Mercedes, Marko brought in Alex Albon with the intention of helping Verstappen take his shot at the championship after replacing Pierre Gasly mid-season in 2019. But, Albon not only failed to help the Dutchman but also proved to be a blunt force.
Having seen Albon’s horrid performances, the Red Bull higher-ups thought it was time for them to sack the Thai-British driver and bring someone else in. However, there was a thorn in the way and it was none other than Red Bull’s $27 billion worth partner family.
Albon had active support from Red Bull’s partner family
Despite some poor shows, the Thai driver had ample support from the Yoovidhya family. The family in the conversation here comes with a $27 billion net worth and is the co-founder of the energy drink-based company.
According to Business F1, being a Thai and a national hero, Albon had support from Chalerm Yoovidhya, son of the late Chaleo Yoovidhya, who was the co-founder of the energy drink. Not only this, but the former Red Bull star also had Vorayuth Yoovidhya, and Chalerm Yoovidhya’s wife Daranee Yoovidhya behind him.
This made the whole situation even trickier for Marko as he wanted to bring in the then Racing Point driver Sergio Perez for Verstappen. But it wasn’t possible, as it created a perfect political storm internally.
How did it all end up with Albon?
After a series of internal meetings, and with Christian Horner’s active support, Red Bull and Marko were able to part ways with the Thai driver and bring in Perez in 2021.
Let’s goooo, first Q3 of the year!!😆🇦🇺 & my best qualifying with @WilliamsRacing so far. Proud of the team & all to play for tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/fNDBaGegDk
— Alex Albon (@alex_albon) April 1, 2023
As Marko’s favorite choice arrived at Milton-Keynes, he actively helped his teammate clinch his first-ever title against Lewis Hamilton.
As for Alex Albon, the 27-year-old had to take a year off before he was given the outgoing George Russell’s seat in Williams in 2022, alongside Nicholas Latifi. It is believed this made both the Yoovidhya family as well as Red Bull happy.
