Towards the end of the last year, Sergio Perez won the Red Bull seat after qualifying over Alexander Albon.
Albon was also unable to match pace with Max Verstappen after Pierre Gasly made way for him.
According to Red Bull advisor, Helmut Marko, things could have gone down a very different path had the situation panned out differently.
Albon stuck around as a reserve
Despite the disappointing result, Albon decides to stick around with Red Bull.
He stayed on as a reserve driver for the outfit and spent his time perfecting himself on the simulator.
“Albon is great on the simulator. He’s doing very well otherwise too, generally speaking,” Marko told Motorsport-Total.com.
“He tested for Pirelli recently. We try to keep him in the family, but if he gets a seat anywhere, we won’t stand in his way.”
No seat for Albon in the future, but…
While Marko confirms that Albon is unlikely to get a seat in the future for Red Bull.
However, due to the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, one can never be too sure.
“If you are positive, you are immediately quarantined. If that happens to a driver, you are out of the race in a triple header. The role of reserve driver is more justified than ever,” Marko added.
When it comes to reserve drivers, Marko is completely in favor of Albon.
Hamilton destroyed Albon’s career
Marko also adds that things could have gone down a different road for Albon.
The race that took place in Austrian last year was the turning point in his career. That was when Lewis Hamilton tapped Albon off the track.
“That’s where I think Hamilton destroyed Albon’s career. If Hamilton hadn’t driven into him there, Albon would have won the race,” Marko explained.
“Then maybe everything would have looked very different because obviously the psyche and confidence develops very differently then,” he continued.
Difference between Albon and Perez
For the time being, it seems that Red Bull will want to stick with Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen’s teammate.
This is due to a key difference between the two drivers.
“The difference is that Perez has more consistency,” Marko explained.
“When he does his qualifying well, like second in Imola or third at the Red Bull Ring, those are results that Albon didn’t have. And in the race he’s almost at Verstappen level if he has a faultless run,” he concluded.
Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Read More: Charles Leclerc opens up on his relationship with Sebastian Vettel – “If I wanted to win, he let me”
I believe Helmut Marko to be a frustrated bullying whiner nearly as bad as Christian Horner who by the way I used to have the upmost respect for but now they are both nothing but whining old ladies and very bad losers. “Do u know how much the damage cost for a new chassis or now a new engine?” Well gentlemen!! NO I MEANT WHINERS BOTH if you can’t take the heat then get out of the kitchen. You are not playing at scalextric here this is Grand Prix racing the highest risk and cost in any motor sports. Accidents happen when you have such stress and such a high level of being on the edge. Sir Louis is not only a brilliant 7 time world champion but also a great example for Max who in honesty has now reached his own level of being a mature brilliant driver and Im sure will one day soon (Not Yet) will also be a F1 world Champion. Mr bad tempered unfair and best Helmut Marko, Wake up and advise Mr Horner to take the recent events on the chin and then move on!!