F1's 2026 silly season is in full flow, with drivers being linked with moves all over the grid. While all the dominoes fall into place, only eight drivers have contracts leading them into the 2027 season. However, retaining drivers is essential for teams who wish to keep stability within their ranks. One of those teams is Williams.
Carlos Sainz is rumoured to be close to extending his contract, which left the other seat open. However, the Oxfordshire-based team has closed the door for any possible transfers as they have confirmed Alex Albon has extended his contract for a year.
Alex Albon backs Williams after a difficult season
The 2026 season has been hard for Williams, with the former world champions sitting in P9, recording only 11 points so far this term. They have failed to live up to expectations and kick on from a positive year in 2025. However, this hasn't stopped Alex Albon from committing to the team.
The Thai driver, who has the most starts ever for the team, will continue with the team for at least another season. Despite FW48 not delivering the results he would have wanted, the 30-year-old believes the team is still growing and this season is a blip.
2026 Season: Alexander Albon vs Carlos Sainz
2026 · P16
2026 · P15
Albon commented, "Since joining Atlassian Williams F1 Team in 2022, the transformation this team has made is difficult to put into words. One tough year doesn’t tell the full picture, and it only gives me more motivation to keep building and pushing together with the factory and our fans to achieve great things. Our story is not over yet, so my full focus now is on doing whatever it takes to get us back up the grid."
The announcement comes after the summer break, in the lead-up to the Dutch GP. Williams are hopeful that upgrades to their car in the next few race weekends will help propel the team forward. The legacy team's results have to improve for the rest of this campaign and going into 2027.
Does Alex Albon have reservations about staying with Williams?
Alex Albon's new deal is short-term. This season has been a major disappointment, with the Thai driver only scoring five points. Albon, who has been with the team since 2022, has seen the growth of Williams, but this season is a low point for the team. This might mean Albon is having reservations about his long-term future.
The one-year extension does mean he can see how the 2027 Williams challenger will perform. This will allow him to then leave as a free agent for the 2028 season, or sign a longer contract should the car be competitive next term.
| P6 Alpine - 61 points |
| P7 Haas - 21 points |
| P8 Audi - 12 points |
| P9 Williams - 11 points |
| P10 Aston Martin - 1 point |
| P11 Cadillac - 0 points |
There was also a lack of options for Albon. The top four teams are looking likely to retain their line-ups. Racing Bulls are not an option, while Cadillac have both drivers tied down to 2027. Audi look likely to keep their driver line-up, while Aston Martin is currently in a worse position than Williams.
The only likely options were Alpine and Haas, with Esteban Ocon's future in doubt and Franco Colapnto's contract situation up in the air. Signing the short-term deal means Albon can assess his options next summer. Is time running out for the Albon/Williams partnership to be successful? Only time will tell.
