Albon ducking F1 driver market: 'I'm keen to stay out of it'

Alex Albon is aiming to avoid getting drawn into the speculation engulfing the F1 driver market, with 'silly season' in full swing unseasonably early this year.

The Williams driver is under contract until the end of 2025. However, that has not stopped him being linked to the vacant seat at Mercedes, or a return to Red Bull to partner Max Verstappen next season.

Last year, amid a strong campaign for Williams, he has been mooted as a potential future Ferrari driver, but Lewis Hamilton signing for the Italian team before the start of the current F1 season put an end to those links.

That move kicked off the F1 driver market for the year, after the grid remained unchanged from the end of 2023 to the start of 2024 - the first time in F1 history.

Speculation about his future has died down in recent weeks, something the 28-year-old is happy about.

"I'm keen to stay out of it," he told media including RacingNews365 when asked whether he could see himself getting involved in the noise surrounding the F1 driver market, adding: "That's more for management to deal with than drivers."

'Uncomfortably early' silly season

Since the start of the F1 season, two more drivers have confirmed their plans for 2025.

First, Fernando Alonso announced he was re-upping with Aston Martin in early April, signing onto a multi-year extension that will see him partner with Honda again after the tumultuous relationship between the two parties when he was at McLaren.

Then, following the Chinese Grand Prix, Nico Hulkenberg's move to Stake F1 was confirmed. The German driver also penned a deal for multiple seasons, staying with the team as it transitions into Audi for 2026.

Max Verstappen's future is now the central focus as F1 heads to Florida for the Miami Grand Prix, despite his Red Bull contract running until 2028. As for free agents, of the 10 still unsigned for next year, Carlos Sainz is the most sought-after, with his name being linked with the Audi project, as it has been for some time.

"It's inevitable, [but] I think everyone's seen how early it's taking place, and it's been uncomfortably early for a lot of teams - as well as drivers, you can imagine," contended Albon, who is placing his attention elsewhere.

"But head down, focus on my job here [at Williams]."