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• Special
centenary logo to run on Alex’s FW46 and team garages at the United States
GP
• FW46 will also feature a unique fan-selected rear wing design as part of
hugely-popular Kraken Rear Wing Takeover
• Fans can meet Alex, Franco Colapinto, James Vowles, Jenson Button and
other team members at Austin Fan Zone, complete with tribute mural and
exclusive merchandise
• Jamie Chadwick to inspire future engineering talent with visit to
University of Texas, and much more
• Alex: ‘I’m grateful for every minute I’ve been a part of this sport…I’m
excited to reach 100 more races.’
Alex Albon will make his 100th Formula 1 race start at the United States GP
this Sunday, rounding off a week of Williams Racing celebrations to mark the
milestone.
The 28-year-old Thai driver will carry a special commemorative logo on his
FW46 across the Austin race weekend as he reaches a century of F1 Grands
Prix.
Now in his fifth F1 season, Alex has scored 240 career points and two
podiums with a best result of third at the 2020 Tuscan and Bahrain GPs. He
made his debut at the 2019 Australian GP for Scuderia Toro Rosso and was
promoted to the senior Red Bull Racing squad just 12 races later. After a
full Red Bull campaign in 2020, Alex raced in German touring cars (DTM) in
2021 before joining Williams Racing for 2022 as the team embarked on a
long-term project to return to the front of the grid.
Since joining Williams he has registered an impressive 43 points, leading us
to seventh place in the Constructors’ World Championship last year. In May
he committed his long-term future to the team, and will form one of the most
formidable driver pairings on the grid with Carlos Sainz next season.
As part of his centenary celebrations, Alex will meet fans and answer
questions at our Austin city centre Fan Zone, presented by Kraken, where a
graffiti mural will honour his achievements. Fellow race driver Franco
Colapinto, Team Principal James Vowles, 2009 F1 World Champion and Williams
Racing ambassador Jenson Button, and the world’s most successful female
racing driver – Williams Driver Academy adviser Jamie Chadwick – will also
make appearances throughout the week, continuing our commitment to provide
fans with unrivalled access to the team.
At the Fan Zone, supporters will be able to get up close and personal with a
Williams FW46 show car featuring a special fan-designed rear wing design
which will also be raced at the Circuit of the Americas. More than 32,000
votes were cast in our second Kraken Rear Wing Takeover, selecting special
Cosmos Collection digital fan alter egos designed by leading Web3 artist
Candy Apple that pay homage to Williams’ Championship-winning heritage.
In an incredible opportunity, Fan Zone visitors who show their speed on our
F1 racing simulators will get the chance to race for real through our
collaboration with Racing Prodigy. The fastest sim drivers will advance to
the next round of a qualifying competition and a shot at the ultimate prize
– a pro contract to race in the Prodigy Three Series.
Limited-edition merchandise celebrating Alex’s 100th race will be available,
in addition to a special Williams Racing Austin capsule collection and
Cosmos Collection items. For the first time, Franco Colapinto fan wear will
also be on sale as the Argentine driver makes his debut US GP appearance.
Alex, Franco and James’ Fan Zone sessions will come after they get a chance
to swap F1 cars for some of the world’s largest earth-moving machines during
a visit to Principal Partner Komatsu’s proving grounds in Arizona.
Our dedication to offering innovative fan experiences on and offline will
continue with an Augmented Reality ‘Where is Williams’ experience, taking
fans on a virtual treasure hunt around Austin and the chance to win a pair
of tickets for the weekend.
Williams’ quest to discover and develop the best talent from around the
world will see college outreach visits to Texas A&M and the University of
Texas, where Jamie Chadwick will meet with the Longhorn Racing Team at the
Cockrell School of Engineering.
Jamie and James Vowles will also discuss how the team is transforming and
investing in what it takes to win – from people and culture to tools and
technology – at a special Autosport Business event on Thursday evening.
Alex Albon: “Austin week and 100 Grands Prix: reaching such a milestone in
the sport is a surreal feeling. The past five years have brought with them
some of the hardest but most rewarding times, and I’m grateful for every
minute I’ve been a part of this sport and community. It’s a great
opportunity to pause and reflect on the progress I’ve made as a driver, and
I’m excited to reach 100 more races. I’m honoured to celebrate here in
Austin with Williams for another home race for the team and Dorilton.
Hopefully, I can make it even more special by bringing home some points for
the team.”
Franco Colapinto: "It’s great to be close to home in the Americas for the
upcoming triple header. This weekend will be my first time racing at COTA
and first Sprint Event in F1. Only having one hour of Free Practice makes it
a challenge to get up to speed before Sprint Qualifying but I’m determined
to hit the ground running. During the break I’ve been putting in the work on
the simulator back at Grove with the team to be prepared as possible.
Finally, congrats to Alex for 100 races in the sport. It’s an amazing
achievement that he can be proud of. Hopefully we can mark the moment with a
positive result as a team this weekend.”
James Vowles, Team Principal: “Congratulations to Alex on reaching 100 races
in Formula 1. Alex has shown over the previous 99 Grands Prix that he is one
of the fastest, most determined and most dedicated drivers in the sport and
we are delighted that he has committed his future to helping Williams move
up the grid. I look forward to celebrating with him and our passionate fans
in Austin this week.” |