Albon doesn’t think Leclerc’s aggressive defending moves were “crazy”

Having been concerned in a fierce battle with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, Williams racer Alexander Albon said that he would have accomplished the identical if he had been within the Monegsque’s place.

Having displayed robust tempo in qualifying, Williams break up their methods within the 63-lap Imola race. Carlos Sainz pitted early whereas his team-mate Alexander Albon stayed out to increase his opening stint.

When the digital security automobile was deployed, Albon took an inexpensive pit cease, and rejoined the monitor in third place. Nevertheless, he was unable to maintain Oscar Piastri at bay. Within the dying phases of the race, the Thai driver was concerned in a fierce battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who ran on a lot older hards.

With just a few laps to go, Albon was pressured huge into the gravel which misplaced him a spot to Lewis Hamilton behind. Leclerc ultimately let Albon by way of, however that was just for fifth when he had been preventing for P4 immediately.

“I’m very pleased. P4 was doable immediately if the Security Automobile didn’t come out on the finish or in the event you take away the Charles incident, however I’m not going to say I’m disenchanted with P5!

“I’m nonetheless very pleased with the race; on pure tempo we have been operating P4, P5, so we have been capable of lengthen the primary stint and that set us up for the entire race. The constant tempo we’re displaying opens up the window for what else we will do, so let’s maintain going and having fun with it.”

Reflecting on his battle with Leclerc, Albon said that the Monegasque remained honest whereas he was defending his place.

“Once I have a look at the battle with Charles, I might most likely have accomplished the identical; it wasn’t that loopy, he was simply attempting to carry his place, however then I misplaced out to Lewis.”

“Possibly I may have been a bit extra affected person with my overtake of Charles, however at that time within the race I used to be feeling so good that I used to be considering: ‘Oscar is up forward on worn tyres, possibly I may go after him!’

F1GP Emilia-Romagnaearlier