Alex Albon says he will not let his Williams team backtrack on a bet made ahead of the Miami Grand Prix weekend. The British-Thai driver dyed his hair red ahead of the inaugural race at the Miami International Autodrome, an event that he had expected to prove "terrible" for him and his car. As such, he made a bet with his entire crew that they must join him in colouring their locks red should he find his way into the top 10 by the chequered flag. When the 26-year-old crossed the line to claim an impressive P9 finish, the backtracking started, Albon has joked. "I just went into the engineering room and they're all starting to backtrack their comments, saying they thought it was a podium. I'm saying, 'No it wasn't!'" he told Sky Sports F1 .
Albon: In some corners we're as quick as anyone
Albon's points-scoring finish was his second in three races for a team that has enjoyed little success in recent seasons. The driver says Williams are confident they can make strides during 2022, with the fight amongst the lower midfield proving tight. "We know the areas that we're lacking in and I think, just generally, we know where we're weak," continued Albon. "In certain corners, it's really clear, and there are some corners where we're just as quick as every other car. "Saying that, this circuit looked, on paper, terrible for us, and we were P2 at one point in FP1."
Miami race one of F1's most physical
The intense heat in Miami proved tough for drivers up and down the grid, with the late-race Safety Car only exacerbating the challenge. "You know my balaclava is soaking and red?" Albon admitted. "It's bright red, all the dye has leaked. It looks like I've been beheaded on track! "It was really physical; I'd say on a par with Singapore. It was relentless and, by the end of the race, you're pushing flat out, and that's when it gets tricky. "The Safety Car was the worst, they're actually worse than driving. When you're driving, the adrenaline is in your system and you're in the zone, and you're ticking away. "But, when you have to keep the tyres up to temperature, it's just a constant workout – but we're athletes."
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