via Getty
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 09: Antonio Giovinazzi of Italy and Alfa Romeo Racing, Kevin Magnussen of Denmark and Haas F1, George Russell of Great Britain and Williams, Alexander Albon of Thailand and Red Bull Racing, Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari and Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren F1 stand on the grid before the F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone on August 09, 2020 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Frank Augstein/Pool via Getty Images)
via Getty
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 09: Antonio Giovinazzi of Italy and Alfa Romeo Racing, Kevin Magnussen of Denmark and Haas F1, George Russell of Great Britain and Williams, Alexander Albon of Thailand and Red Bull Racing, Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari and Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren F1 stand on the grid before the F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone on August 09, 2020 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Frank Augstein/Pool via Getty Images)
F1 is safe in the hands of the younger generation of drivers who are equally talented as the previous generations. Youngbloods like Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Alex Albon, and George Russell are some of the finest drivers in terms of talent the sport has ever seen.
But there is one difference between these drivers and the drivers of old. The younger generation of drivers are friends with each other and there is no animosity between them. This is a very peculiar thing in F1 which is so individualistic and hardcore sport that they can maintain a friendship.
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In a recent interview, Williams’ driver Alex Albon explained how he maintains his friendship with F1 drivers when he is competing against them year after year.
READ MORE: Is George Russell a pay driver?
Alex Albon reveals the secret behind F1 camaraderie
The Thai driver is a well-mannered person and is friends with all the young drivers on the grid. He is particularly close with George Russell, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc. He mentioned that they have been racing against each other since their karting days and have had an existing dynamic since then.
“I like it. We’re really friends. We enjoy each other’s company, and we like to joke around and cheer each other up. Once in the race, it’s every man for himself,” said the Williams driver.
Manifesting Twitch Quartet reunion 🥺 pic.twitter.com/G2MvMkipK6
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“Once the helmet is on, you put that friendship aside. But you still have respect, and you know when the helmet is off, you’re friends again. It’s not like a TV show. It’s not like we take off our helmets and it’s over. I delete you on Instagram, and our relationship is over.”
“We’re still friends. What happens on the track happens, we text each other. Texting to ask what happened, but we’re still friends. We’re old enough for that,” said Albon.
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It is nice to see that the younger generation can balance their on-track battles with their off-track fellowship. It has genuinely been so much fun and refreshing to see drivers on the track getting along so well in their personal lives as well. Hopefully, this friendship will continue until the end of their careers in F1.
