P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ex-Ferrari insider hails midfield F1 star: “There were lots of question marks”
Ex-Ferrari engineer Rob Smedley praised Alex Albon for his strong start to the 2025 F1 season despite initial doubts about his form. Albon, dropped by Red Bull in 2020, returned with Williams and slowly rebuilt his reputation. Concerns lingered over his performance level due to his previous teammates being weak competition. Albon’s skill was tested by Franco Colapinto, raising questions about his abilities. Nevertheless, Albon proved his worth, surpassing new teammate Carlos Sainz and scoring 30 points, currently ranking eighth in the drivers’ standings. Smedley believes Albon has silenced his critics and commended Williams for fielding two strong drivers. Martin Brundle also lauded Albon, noting his exceptional form post-Miami Grand Prix where he outperformed top drivers, resulting in Williams’ best start since 2017.
