Albon: "You have flashbacks to previous times when fighting for podiums"

Alexander Albon is happy that despite the 'terrible' restarts he has managed to get a podium place in Italy. The Red Bull Racing driver also states that he had a brief flashback to the incidents with Lewis Hamilton in recent months when he caught up with Daniel Ricciardo.

"Our starts today were terrible", Albon told Sky Sports after the Grand Prix at Mugello. In the press conference, explained his race. “On the mediums, we were strong, so I knew the pace was there, but I was a bit afraid with another red flag as I was happy to be in that position. The Renault was strong at starts, Racing Point, too. It fired me up when we lost another position off the start, but I knew we had the pace."

Max Verstappen's teammate continues his story: "It was more about patience during the race, and making sure you don’t use the tyres too early so you had something for overtakes later on," the 24-year-old driver said.

What was on Albon's mind?

His overtaking on Daniel Ricciardo was one of them. He himself remembered the moments with Lewis Hamilton during the Grands Prix of Brazil (2019) and Austria (2020). There he was also battling for a podium place, but contact occurred.

"Of course I was a little worried, but I left enough space. When you send it around the outside, you’re hopeful, and you have flashbacks to previous times when fighting for podiums, but we managed to get through unscathed," Albon concludes.