Nissan splits with Albon, paving way for Toro Rosso F1 seat
Nissan has parted ways with Alexander Albon ahead of the 2018/19 Formula E season, paving the way for his anticipated switch to Formula 1 with Toro Rosso.
Albon, who finished third in this year's Formula 2 Championship, had signed a deal to race for the Nissan e.dams Formula E squad during season five but the British-Thai driver failed to make an appearance for the team at Valencia pre-season testing, fuelling speculation of a switch to F1.
Nissan has parted ways with Alexander Albon ahead of the 2018/19 Formula E season, paving the way for his anticipated switch to Formula 1 with Toro Rosso.
Albon, who finished third in this year's Formula 2 Championship, had signed a deal to race for the Nissan e.dams Formula E squad during season five but the British-Thai driver failed to make an appearance for the team at Valencia pre-season testing, fuelling speculation of a switch to F1.
He is now expected to be confirmed as a Toro Rosso F1 driver for 2019 in the coming days, following an approach from the Faenza-based outfit after Albon emerged as a leading candidate to partner the returning Daniil Kvyat.
Nissan said it had "agreed to part ways with Albon" so that he could "take up a different opportunity in motorsport".
It added confirmation of who will drive alongside Sebastien Buemi in 2018/19 would follow at the team's official launch event in Tokyo later this week.
Williams F1 young driver Oliver Rowland is understood to be among the candidates, after the Briton replaced Albon at Nissan on the final day of pre-season testing.