Red Bull top executive reportedly willing to fund buyout of ‘fiery’ F1 driver

Reports from Motorsport Italia suggest Red Bull have resumed talks with Alex Albon about a possible move in 2026. While still far from certain, the door has not closed.

Albon remains under contract at Williams through the end of 2027 after signing an extension in 2024. However, the same report notes that Chalerm Yoovidhya, a significant shareholder in Red Bull, may be willing to step in and help cover any financial hurdles.

The pair share Thai heritage, and Yoovidhya has reportedly taken a personal interest in bringing Albon back. The driver first appeared for Toro Rosso in 2019 before quickly moving up to the main Red Bull team.

Albon lasted 18 months alongside Verstappen before Sergio Perez took his seat. Since joining Williams in 2022, he has rebuilt his reputation. But with financial backing on offer, a return to Red Bull could be hard to turn down.

What’s Alex Albon’s view on a possible return to Red Bull?

Back in August, reports suggested that Albon was not too keen on returning to Red Bull. Motorsport Italia noted that taking on Verstappen has been one of the toughest roles in the sport.

On top of that, leaving Williams for Red Bull comes with more uncertainty now than it did in past seasons. James Vowles’ team will be running Mercedes power units, while Mekies is overseeing Red Bull’s first in-house engine project.

Guenther Steiner has mentioned that Albon can be ‘fiery’ over the radio, often showing frustration with some of Williams’ mistakes. But this frustration seems to come from belief in the team’s potential, especially given their rise up to fifth in the standings this year.

Albon has also been sharing his experiences with Tsunoda, suggesting he now understands what went wrong during his first spell at Red Bull. Another shot at Milton Keynes would give him a chance to prove if he has learned from those past challenges.