Albon got ‘greedy’ with “silly” FP3 crash, set for pitlane start

Toro Rosso Formula 1 driver Alexander Albon says he got a “bit greedy” in his costly FP3 crash that prevented him from taking part in Chinese Grand Prix qualifying.

Albon ran wide at the exit of the final corner in Shanghai and lost control of his car, before slamming into the barriers on the right-hand side. The impact severely damaged the left side of his STR14 and forced the team to change his chassis, meaning the British-born Thai driver missed qualifying.

The FIA confirmed that Albon will start from the Shanghai pitlane for Sunday’s race after Toro Rosso carried out the chassis change.

“I’m OK,” Albon said after the session. “I’m more angry and disappointed than anything else. It was a big crash and a bit of a silly one as well.

“Just a bit too much astro turf, a bit too much throttle and just a bit greedy for FP3.”

Albon said it would be a “bad excuse” to put the crash down to a simple rookie mistake and his frustration was compounded as he felt he had the potential to put his Toro Rosso into the top 10.

“It would be a bad excuse I would think,” he explained. “I don’t think it should have happened.

“I think I was a little bit too greedy, that was it. Obviously trying to find the limit but should have been in qualifying rather than FP3.

“I’m really disappointed because I think we had a good chance to be in Q3 today and I think the car has been really strong this weekend, so not happy with it.”