Formula 1: Alexander Albon to make history in Belgian Grand Prix

Alexander Albon is set to do something that hasn’t been done in Formula 1 in 14 years when he competes in today’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.

Even after both Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team manager Helmut Marko and team principal Christian Horner stated that Pierre Gasly would not be replaced before the 2019 Formula 1 season ended, the team ended up promoting Scuderia Toro Rosso rookie Alexander Albon as his replacement following the most recent race, the Hungarian Grand Prix.

As a result, the 23-year-old Thai-British driver is set to drive for the Milton Keynes-based team in each of the remaining nine races on the 21-race schedule, during which time the team will look to assess him and see whether or not they will bring him back next season.

But before we get to next season, let’s focus on the fact that when Albon makes his debut for Red Bull Racing in the Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, he is set to make history and do what has not been done since the 2005 season.

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No driver has driven for Red Bull Racing as a rookie since Vitantonio Liuzzi did so back in the 2005 season. Christian Klien began and finished the season driving for the team, but he missed six of its 19 races. Liuzzi, who had never previously competed in Formula 1, was promoted from his role as the team’s reserve and test driver and drove in four of these six races.

However, at this point, Red Bull Racing were not an established contender. In fact, they were in only their first season of Formula 1 competition.

This just makes Albon’s arrival all the more impressive. A rookie driving for a contending team, especially one as good as Red Bull Racing have been this season with two victories to put themselves in a close battle with Scuderia Ferrari for second place in the constructor standings, is practically unheard of and unfathomable, especially in this day and age.

Even Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, who replaced Daniil Kvyat in the same style by which Albon replaced Gasly during a season, was not promoted to the team in his rookie season, and even Ferrari youngster Charles Leclerc spent a season driving for Alfa Romeo Sauber before he was promoted to the seat that he had been rumored to get as early as two years beforehand.

And just think about this: Marko had to negotiate with Nissan to get Albon out of his contract to compete in Formula E this year just so he could sign with Toro Rosso, and even that only stemmed from the fact that there was a shortage of drivers for Red Bull Racing to sign.

Let’s also not forget that the organization axed Albon back in 2012 after a disappointing season in Formula Renault.

Skip ahead a few months after Nissan released him just before the 2018-2019 Formula E season, and he is set to fulfill a lifelong dream doing something that is simply unimaginable after just 12 races at Toro Rosso.

Tune in to Alexander Albon’s Formula 1 debut driving for Red Bull Racing later this morning at 9:05 a.m. ET on ESPN2, as that is when the live broadcast of the Belgian Grand Prix is set to begin from Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.