Young star wants new Red Bull deal to move on
AS Lewis Hamilton closes in on his sixth world championship, and yet more riches, Alex Albon hopes to earn the new Red Bull deal which will allow him to move out of his parents’ house.
While Hamilton can deliver another title at this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix, London-born Albon, 23, has set his sights on leaving the Milton Keynes home he shares with his mother, stepfather, three sisters and brother.
“Hopefully in years to come I will earn more money and be able to move out,” Albon said.
“At the minute I am housebound, family housebound.
“Milton Keynes is a nice town and close to the Red Bull factory, but how do I say this? There are other places out there. Maybe I need to live somewhere else and have a more extravagant lifestyle?
“I would definitely like to go to London. I have been thinking about it, but, again, it is about money. I need to score some bonus points.” Albon has steadily impressed following his promotion from Toro Rosso to Red Bull, just 12 races into his rookie campaign.
He matched team-mate Max Verstappen’s qualifying lap in Suzuka before finishing a careerbest fourth. His boss, Christian Horner, now says it is Albon’s seat to lose for 2020.
Albon was born in London, educated in Ipswich, and has lived in England for most of his life, but he adopted his mother, Kankamol’s Thai nationality. His father, Nigel Albon, is a former British Touring Car driver.
“I have both British and Thai passports but I chose to drive under the Thai flag,” Albon added. “I do feel Thai, but it doesn’t mean I don’t feel British either. In the end it is a racing licence. You have to choose one and I chose Thai.”
Hamilton will seal his fifth championship in six seasons on Sunday if he outscores Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas by 14 points. But when the 34-year-old hangs up his helmet, Albon, alongside McLaren’s Lando Norris, 19, and Williams driver George Russell, 21, are primed to ensure the future of British motor racing remains in safe hands.
MANCHESTER’S grassroots sporting heroes were honoured a special awards ceremony.
The Manchester Sports Awards is a celebration of the achievements by volunteers, clubs and community organisations, with a big emphasis on those who give countless hours to sport in the city. Awards were presented in eight categories at the
Hilton Hotel on Deansgate, at a ceremony hosted by former GB Olympic athlete Katharine Merry, alongside former England and Manchester Thunder netball coach Tracey Neville MBE.
Among the awards handed out was the People’s Champion award, supported by the Manchester Evening News, presented by Lancashire and England cricketer Keaton Jennings and Print Sport Editor Chris Ostick from the M.E.N. The award celebrates a person who has made an impact over a number of years on people, a club, a school or their community – and was awarded to Terry Surridge after a vote by M.E.N. readers.
Terry has a long history of success in sports coaching and administration across Manchester. Since 1973 he has worked in Gorton, where he started coaching weightlifting in school and his club – Team Manchester.
His achievements within weightlifting are extensive, organising the British Schools’ Championships and coaching youngsters who successfully competed across the globe. Individuals under Terry’s tutorage took part in the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2004 in an all-Manchester England team.
In retirement, his commitment hasn’t waned and he travels several times a week and at weekends to