Albon knows he needs to “close the gap” to Verstappen

Alex Albon says he is aware he needs to “close the gap” to Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen during the 2020 Formula 1 season.

Albon made a sensational mid-season switch to Red Bull just 12 races into his F1 career after making an impressive start to life with Toro Rosso. Albon was drafted into Red Bull’s line-up alongside Verstappen as replacement for the underperforming Pierre Gasly, who subsequently returned to Toro Rosso.

Barring a late collision with Lewis Hamilton in Brazil, Albon enjoyed a streak of top-six finishes for Red Bull in his nine races for the team and claimed eight spot in the championship, prompting the Milton Keynes squad to hand him a full-time drive for 2020.

“I want to be there, fighting there [for the title with Verstappen],” Albon told Sky Sports when talking about the prospects of a season-long campaign against Verstappen.

“I still want to beat him in that sense. I know I need to work on myself, I don’t think I’m there yet but I’m working on it.

“I feel there are areas I need to improve on. It does feel like coming into this year, there is that sense of knowing what to expect and I’ve been to all the tracks and experienced all the dramas I can face.

“For me right now I see Max as someone I can improve with, looking at data and seeing where he is quick, because it is no secret that he is very fast.

“Then at the same time I’m focused on myself and trying to close the gap to overtake him.”

Expanding on the areas he feels he can be better, the British-born Thai driver said he hopes to improve on his race craft and further embed himself into the team with his technical feedback.

“There’s general pace and things like qualifying, there’s things in terms of race craft that I want to work on with starts, and just team interaction,” Albon added.

“How can I give better feedback, how can the team understand me better and how can I make the team understand me better. Just to chip away and get better.

“I’m more comfortable with the team now. It’s all going smoothly in my mind.”