Alex Albon has admitted he was at one stage “licking my lips” over the prospect of a podium finish during the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, only to be made to settle for fifth position at the chequered flag.
Albon followed Max Verstappen and Lando Norris long into Sunday’s race and pitted under a Virtual Safety Car brought out to cover Esteban Ocon’s stricken Haas, meaning he jumped early stopper Oscar Piastri and provisionally held third.
He was cleared by Piastri’s McLaren as the race developed, though, and then dropped to fifth after stopping for fresh tyres under a late Safety Car, coming back out between recovering Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Albon’s failed initial attack on Leclerc opened the door for Hamilton and saw him lose further ground, before he was let through by the Monegasque – Ferrari seemingly concerned about a possible penalty over his robust defence – and wound up in P5.
Albon impressed throughout Sunday afternoon’s race at the Imola circuit
Asked if he had mixed emotions over the result, with Williams last scoring a podium via George Russell at the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, Albon replied: “It’s weird, isn’t it? On the pure race [outlook] we were fighting for P3, P4 – that’s no Safety Cars, that’s just the pure situation.
“Obviously, we were maybe a little bit lucky with the VSC, admittedly, but at the same time we got unlucky again on the last Safety Car.
DRIVER OF THE DAY: Victorious Verstappen gets your vote after Imola masterclass
“Back-to-back P5s [here and in Miami] and [we’re] coming away today a bit disappointed, which is a bit strange to say.
“I think maybe I could have raced Charles a bit differently, I could have done a bit better there. Obviously, I lost out to Lewis, and maybe I could have been a bit more patient with my overtake Charles.
“I was kind of licking my lips! I thought I could even get Oscar up in front as well, such was the pace in the new tyres we had on the car.”
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix: Albon forced wide in battle with Leclerc – who is then forced to let his rival through
Nonetheless, Albon described himself “very happy” with the result which, combined with team mate Carlos Sainz’s run to eighth, adds to Williams’ recent momentum and keeps them a comfortable fifth in the championship standings.
“Honestly, I keep telling myself it won’t happen again, it’s this race, and then we go to the next race and we’re still quick again,” he commented of Williams’ form. “Is it circumstantial, is it not?
READ MORE: FIA issue clarification after Bearman lap time confusion during Imola Qualifying
“I would honestly say Miami and here we’ve been quick… in my opinion, almost unexpectedly quick this weekend. I expected Miami to be good, but not here. It kind of opens the window for what else?
“Maybe next week we’re going to be good. I actually think Monaco won’t be too bad. I think in Barcelona we’re going to struggle, but let’s keep going and enjoying this while it lasts.”
RACE TICKETS – MONACO
Don’t miss your chance to experience the world’s most famous street circuit…