Alex Albon rewrites Williams history with record start

Alex Albon has etched his name into Formula 1 history by becoming Williams Racing’s most-capped driver, surpassing Nigel Mansell’s long-standing record of 95 Grand Prix starts for the British team.

The milestone marks another chapter in Albon’s remarkable career turnaround, having gone from losing his Red Bull race seat in 2020 to becoming one of Williams’ most influential modern drivers and a cornerstone of the team’s resurgence.

Albon officially claimed the record at the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, making his 96th Formula 1 start for Williams. He had equalled Mansell’s tally at the Monaco Grand Prix earlier in the season, where he finished eighth before moving clear of the 1992 world champion in Spain.

The achievement places Albon ahead of several Williams legends, including Damon Hill, Alain Prost, Jacques Villeneuve and Mansell, cementing his status as one of the longest-serving drivers in the team’s Formula 1 history.

Albon’s journey has been anything but straightforward.

After impressing during his rookie Formula 1 campaign with Toro Rosso in 2019, Red Bull promoted him midway through the season to replace Pierre Gasly alongside Max Verstappen. Although Albon showed flashes of promise, he endured a difficult 2020 campaign before securing two podium finishes at the Tuscan and Bahrain Grands Prix, becoming the first Thai driver to stand on a Formula 1 podium.

Despite those performances, Red Bull opted to replace him with Sergio Perez for the 2021 season. Albon spent the year serving as reserve driver for Red Bull and AlphaTauri while also competing in Germany’s DTM championship, where he remained race-sharp despite his absence from the Formula 1 grid.

His Formula 1 return came in 2022 when Williams signed him to spearhead the team’s rebuilding project.

The move proved transformative for both driver and team.

Albon immediately established himself as Williams’ standout performer, consistently extracting results from machinery that was often uncompetitive against the midfield. His strategic tyre management and ability to score points in difficult circumstances earned widespread praise throughout the paddock.

Since joining Williams, Albon has accumulated 121 championship points through the end of the 2025 season while delivering multiple top-five finishes that helped stabilize one of Formula 1’s most historic teams.

Williams credited Albon as a driving force behind the team’s determination to return to the front of the Formula 1 grid, highlighting both his performances on track and his leadership within the organization. The record also reflects Albon’s consistency and longevity during a period of significant change at Williams.

Unlike many drivers who passed through the Grove-based outfit during its rebuilding years, Albon established himself as the team’s long-term leader, helping guide development while consistently outperforming the car’s expected potential. His success stands in sharp contrast to the uncertainty that surrounded his career following his departure from Red Bull.

Many questioned whether the Thai-British driver would receive another opportunity in Formula 1 after losing his seat. Instead, Williams provided the platform for Albon to rebuild his reputation, gradually evolving into one of the grid’s most respected midfield drivers.

His ability to maximize race strategy, preserve tyres and capitalize on changing conditions has repeatedly enabled Williams to challenge teams with significantly larger budgets. The record-breaking appearance also underlines the trust Williams has placed in Albon as it continues its long-term rebuilding programme. While the team remains focused on climbing further up the Formula 1 order under the sport’s current regulations, Albon’s experience and technical feedback have become central to its development plans.

From being sidelined as Red Bull’s reserve driver to rewriting Williams’ history books, Albon’s journey represents one of Formula 1’s most compelling career revivals, rewarding persistence with a place alongside the greatest names ever to race for the iconic British constructor.