JUST IN : Alex Albon Admits: “I Don’t Know How to Race” Amid FIA Penalty CONTROVERSIES… Read more
Alex Albon Admits: “I Don’t Know How to Race” Amid FIA Penalty Controversies
Williams driver Alex Albon has made a surprising and rather damning admission about his approach to Formula 1 racing, suggesting that even as one of the sport’s most consistent midfield performers this season, he feels uncertain about how to properly race under the current FIA regulations.
Albon has enjoyed a solid 2025 campaign so far, scoring 70 points and sitting seventh in the drivers’ standings. His performances have underlined his reputation as one of the grid’s most dependable competitors. Yet, speaking to the media ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the Thai-British driver confessed: “I still don’t really know how to properly race.”
Albon’s comments stem from frustration at a series of controversial decisions by FIA race stewards in recent weeks. Many of these penalties have sparked debates over consistency, leaving drivers unsure about where the line is drawn in wheel-to-wheel combat.
The Sainz Penalty Saga
Much of the frustration within the Williams camp dates back to the Dutch Grand Prix, where Albon’s teammate Carlos Sainz was penalised for a clash with Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson at the restart after a safety car. Heading into Turn One, the stewards ruled that Lawson had the corner and that Sainz had forced him off. The Spaniard was handed a 10-second time penalty, which ruined his race and denied him valuable points.
However, in a dramatic twist, the FIA later overturned the penalty following a Williams protest. The decision, announced between the Italian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix, also removed two penalty points from Sainz’s super licence. While the reversal cleared Sainz’s record, it left many questioning how the stewards initially reached such a firm conclusion only to retract it weeks later. Sainz himself branded the original call “ridiculous” and urged Williams to fight it strongly after the race.
Bearman’s Controversial Penalty
The inconsistency did not stop there. At the Italian Grand Prix, Haas rookie Ollie Bearman was handed a 10-second penalty and two penalty points for a late-race incident with Sainz. The punishment left many scratching their heads, with 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg openly stating that he believed the penalty should have gone the other way—arguing that Sainz, not Bearman, was at fault.
Unlike Williams, Haas chose not to protest the decision. As a result, Bearman’s tally of penalty points now stands at 10 over the last 12 months, placing him dangerously close to a race ban should he collect two more.
Albon’s Stinging Criticism of FIA
Against this backdrop, Albon’s admission highlights how uncertain many drivers feel about racing etiquette under the FIA’s stewardship. Despite being a seasoned competitor with six seasons in the sport—barring a year away in 2021—two podium finishes, and more than 300 career points, Albon suggested that the shifting standards have left him questioning the fundamentals of racecraft in modern F1.
The Williams driver’s comments can be seen as a broader criticism of the FIA’s approach. By admitting he feels unsure about how to compete fairly without risking penalties, Albon shines a spotlight on the confusion that many in the paddock share. With penalties overturned weeks after races and inconsistent stewarding decisions creating uncertainty, both drivers and teams are increasingly calling for clearer guidelines and greater accountability from race officials.
As the Azerbaijan Grand Prix approaches, the issue of inconsistent stewarding continues to dominate discussions. While Sainz’s overturned penalty may embolden more teams to lodge protests, the case of Bearman shows how harshly decisions can affect young drivers still carving out their careers.
For Albon, his candid admission underscores a wider problem in Formula 1: when even experienced drivers say they don’t know how to race under the rules, it is clear that the FIA has work to do in restoring trust and clarity on track.
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