Albon reveals 'tough toll' placed on Verstappen team-mate at Red Bull

Alexander Albon has explained the "toll" of being team-mates with Max Verstappen at Red Bull, calling it a "tough place" to be.

The Williams driver spent a season and a half alongside the Dutchman at the Milton Keynes-based team, replacing Pierre Gasly mid-way though his rookie season in 2019.

However, the now 28-year-old also failed to adapt to life partnering Verstappen, securing two podium finishes during his Red Bull tenure. He was ultimately sidelined for Sergio Perez for 2021 before joining the Grove squad the following year.

As the scrutiny placed on his successor reaches an apex, Albon was asked why he felt life next to 'team-mate killer' Verstappen was so hard.

"Yeah, it's a tricky one," the Thai driver told media including RacingNews365. "First of all, you have to just appreciate the talent that Max has, that's number one.

"Number two is it's not always that comfortable to drive that car. I don't know where it is now, for Checo [Sergio Perez], I haven't been following along too much.

"But I've said it a few times now, I think he [Verstappen] likes the car quite different - it's not easy for other drivers to adapt to it, and then it's just that toll of it. You're in the spotlight constantly, and it's a tough place to be.

"For anyone, it's not going to be an easy place to be, to be his team-mate."

'I don't know if that just makes it harder' for Red Bull

When pressed on whether that was more down to Verstappen's or Red Bull's set-up preferences, Albon suggested it was a combination of both.

"I'd say it goes in both ways," he replied. "When you look at Checo at the beginning of the year, I think the car felt a little bit more stable for him, and relative to the top teams, he was doing a good job.

"He could qualify in the top five, top three, and get back podium finishes and whatnot.

"And then [it] went away from him as the upgrades came on, and Max felt more comfortable with the car. Maybe not comfortable, but as he could deal with it, Checo struggled a bit more, so a bit of both, really."

However, the Williams driver did also question the virtue of that approach, with his final remark coming during a season in which Red Bull has sacrificed its constructors' championship due to the striking imbalance in both its car and driver line up.

"I think Max likes car in a certain way [and] the team are able to give it to him," Albon stated. "I don't know if that just makes it harder for the team."