Red Bull confirms Albon for 2020 F1 season

Red Bull has confirmed that Alexander Albon will remain with the Formula 1 team for the 2020 season. 

Albon will complete the Milton Keynes squad's driver line-up for next year, partnering Max Verstappen. 

The British-born Thai driver was drafted into the Red Bull senior team just 12 races into his F1 career in a mid-season swap to replace the underperforming Pierre Gasly. 

Gasly returned to Toro Rosso, where Albon had started his career and made enough of an impression to warrant Red Bull to offer him an early graduation. 

Since making the switch to Red Bull at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, Albon has finished inside the top six at every race, while he has also outscored Verstappen in terms of points. 

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said it is "extremely hard to deny that level of consistency". 

“Alex has performed extremely well since his debut with the team in Belgium and his results – seven finishes in the top-six – speak for themselves," he added.

"It’s extremely hard to deny that level of consistency and in tandem with a growing reputation as a tenacious, fiercely committed racer, Alex has proved that he fully deserves to continue his progress with Aston Martin Red Bull Racing.

"There is plenty of potential still to unlock and we look forward to seeing Alex alongside Max in 2020.”

Albon hopes to use his early experience gained at Red Bull to improve further next season.

“I am really excited to be partnering Max again for next year and I know how fortunate I am to be given this opportunity," he said. 

"I’m hugely thankful that Red Bull have put their trust in me and believed in my results since I joined the Team and for them to keep me in the car next year is a big deal.

"This year has been an incredible year for me and getting the call up to Red Bull mid-season was already a big step, so now I will use the learnings from this season and use the experience to improve and fight at the front in 2020.”

The news closes the door on the highest-placed remaining seat on the grid for 2020, with Gasly expected to remain at Toro Rosso alongside Daniil Kvyat for a further campaign next year.