Alex Albon explains disappointing Q1 exit in Bahrain: "Messed up"
Alex Albon was eliminated in Q1 in Bahrain, whereas his team-mate Carlos Sainz qualified in eighth.
Alex Albon, Williams
Photo by: Bryn Lennon - Formula 1
Alex Albon has reacted to his early qualifying exit in Bahrain, claiming he would have to review it with the Williams team but hinted that they got the timing wrong at the end of the session.
The Williams driver wasn't the only one cutting it fine in Q1, with Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda also leaving it to the last minute to start their final flying laps. Fortunately for the Red Bulls, they managed to progress to the next stage.
While speaking to Sky Sports F1 following his early qualifying exit, the Thai-British driver explained:
"We messed up on... Well, we need to review it, but we went out very late. I had to overtake 4 or 5 cars on my out lap to try and get a lap in, and then, we were sitting in a pit lane for a long time with the blankets off whilst all the cars were coming out on the pit lane.
"So, we started the lap maybe 15 degrees too cold on where we should have been, and then that was it really.
"So, you know, the margins here are so small. We talk about it every week and we just didn't execute the right plan."
Alex Albon, Williams
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
When asked what the potential of the car is this weekend, Albon noted Sainz's pace. The Spanish driver progressed through to Q3 and out-qualified his new team-mate for the first time this season with a P8 start. Albon added:
"I think Carlos will put it where it should be. He's been good this weekend and I think we're fairly closely matched. So I think close to Q3, but it was always going to be tight.
"Our race pace was good. Our strategy is going to be important. This is not going to be a Suzuka, so there's going to be a few laps, a few different strategies. We'll see which one's the right one for us."
Photos from Bahrain GP - Practice & Qualifying
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
Share Or Save This Story
Isack Hadjar earns "team-mate points" after "exceptional comeback" in Baku, says Alex Brundle
James Vowles hails Williams factory effort after major Baku F1 upgrade
Arvid Lindblad praised for "class" response after Liam Lawson Azerbaijan GP clash
Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz reveal F1 boys' trip plans
Williams’ long-awaited F1 upgrade is delivering in Baku – but was Q3 an “overachievement”?
How Fernando Alonso scored ninth at Zandvoort - and how Alex Albon lost a similar payday
Guenther Steiner calls out Williams over F1 infrastructure complaints: "Crocodile tears"
Carlos Sainz handed Azerbaijan F1 grid drop for yellow flag breach
Why Williams problems are worse than previously known
George Russell after rejuvenating Baku win: "It would have been very easy for me to lose the faith"
"Everything that could go wrong went wrong" for Ferrari in Fuji WEC
Wins v. big picture dominate Truck Series Chase discourse after Kansas
Jorge Martin “made us feel wanted” amid current MotoGP struggles, says Yamaha boss
Why Mercedes is still quicker than McLaren
Baku late-race chaos almost costs George Russell victory over Max Verstappen
How George Russell claimed his career-best pole margin in F1 Azerbaijan GP qualifying
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments