Representing your country or continent on the biggest stage is a blessing, which Atlassian Williams F1 driver Alex Albon feels about his Thai heritage, which has given him an identity and the respect of fans across Southeast Asia. Williams driver considers both Malaysia and Singapore as “home races” and hopes Thailand can eventually join that list.Malaysia is hosting the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang this weekend as part of an arrangement that keeps the Bahrain round on the Formula 1 calendar. The race will be this weekend, with Sepang serving as Round 16 of the 2026 F1 season.For Albon, the venue carries significance beyond the unusual circumstances surrounding this year’s race. He races under the Thai flag and has a strong connection with Southeast Asia, where he feels particularly embraced by fans.“It’s lovely to kind of be able to say that I have two home races, which are Singapore and Malaysia. In the end, my goal would be to have three, which is obviously Thailand as well,” Albon told the Times of India in a roundtable interaction ahead of this weekend’s Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.“I feel like I get very embraced by Southeast Asian fans in general. I feel very lucky.”Albon said his Thai heritage has given him greater exposure across the region, with Malaysia and Thailand sharing a particularly strong connection.“I would say in terms of my identity, more than anything, it just gives me more exposure,” Albon said when asked how his Thai heritage has shaped his identity in Formula 1.“I find that the Southeast Asian grouping of countries is kind of like one big family in many ways. And having, for example, Malaysia as another home race is amazing. I feel especially Malaysia and Thailand have a very strong connection, very strong relationship,” he added.
Thailand could give Albon a third home race
Albon’s wish to see Thailand join the Formula 1 calendar could become a reality as early as 2028.Thailand has approved a $1.23 billion bid to host an F1 street race in Bangkok, with the proposed race expected to run under an initial five-year contract from 2028 to 2032.The proposed 5.7-kilometre street circuit will feature 18 corners and run through the Bangkok area between Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station and Chatuchak Park. The race is being considered for either March or September, depending on its eventual place on the F1 calendar.For now, Albon has Malaysia and Singapore.The 5.543-kilometre Sepang circuit features 15 corners and will host a 56-lap Grand Prix on Sunday. The race is scheduled to begin at 3pm local time on October 4, with qualifying taking place on Saturday at 4pm.Sepang previously hosted Formula 1 from 1999 to 2017 and is known for its long straights, technical corners and unpredictable weather.The Malaysian weekend also gives Albon another chance to race in front of fans from a region he increasingly regards as home.
Albon on the growing role of drivers in F1 development
Albon’s responsibilities at Williams extend beyond what happens once he gets behind the wheel.The Thai-British driver, who made his F1 debut in 2019 and returned to the grid with Williams in 2022, said his experience has seen him become increasingly involved in projects for future cars and in discussions with engineers about the direction of development.“I feel more and more involved in the process and the projects leading into next year’s cars, with experience, you take on more accountability and also you develop a trust with the engineers together as well, that they can kind of, I guess, believe in what you say and the direction that you want the car to go in,” Albon said.He believes having two experienced drivers can also help a team identify weaknesses in a car and push development forward.“I think it’s very fortunate for us as a team that we have two drivers that are experienced. And I think that does allow us to be able to lean on each other, lean on the team and push the development forward,” he said.Albon pointed to the challenge teams can face when both drivers are rookies.“If you have two rookies, it’s a lot harder to understand what are the weak points of the car,” he said.But experience in Formula 1, according to Albon, is not simply about the number of seasons a driver has spent on the grid. It is also about knowing how to communicate with the right people within a team.“The biggest difference is actually the maturity as a driver to speak to the relevant people within the team, to go directly to them and to discuss how to get better as a group,” he said.“These kind of areas, I feel like every year I’ve become more and more involved in, which I enjoy. I think it’s a part of Formula One that doesn’t get talked about a lot, but the driver has a big involvement in the way the car gets developed,” he concluded.
Sepang first, Singapore next
After the Malaysian weekend, F1 heads to Singapore from October 9-11, giving Albon another opportunity to race in a part of the world he considers home. The Singapore Grand Prix will be held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.For now, two home races remain on Albon’s list. But with Thailand working towards a place on the F1 calendar, the Williams driver has already made clear what he would like to see next.
