P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Albon: Melbourne F1 points would be "payback" to Sargeant
Albon’s car was badly damaged in a crash during the opening practice on Friday, causing him to miss FP2. Due to no spare chassis being available, team principal James Vowles decided to have Albon take over his teammate’s healthy chassis for Saturday, leading to Sargeant missing the rest of the weekend. Despite this unexpected change, Albon performed impressively in qualifying, finishing seventh in Q1 and 12th in Q2, just behind Lewis Hamilton.
When asked about driving his teammate’s car, Albon admitted to feeling a mix of strange emotions but recognized the responsibility entrusted to him. He emphasized the importance of focusing on his job and treating the weekend as usual, although one session down. Albon expressed gratitude towards Sargeant for handling the situation with grace and professionalism, showcasing teamwork and camaraderie within the team.
Their collaboration and shared feedback helped Albon feel comfortable on the track, with the borrowed car feeling almost identical to his own. Despite challenges in pushing the car to its limits in qualifying, Albon was satisfied with his performance considering the circumstances of the last few days. Overall, he reflected on the experience as a good result and aimed to repay Logan with points in the race.
