Toro Rosso's Albon got lucky in Bahrain, but he'll take it!

©ToroRosso

Rookie Alex Albon received a lucky break in the closing stages of the Bahrain Grand Prix, the Toro Rosso driver scoring his first F1 points thanks to Renault's double DNF on Sunday.

Albon, who holds British and Thai passports, also became the first driver from Thailand to score championship points since Prince Bira of Siam in 1954.

The 23-year-old launched his race from 12th and raced just outside the top-ten for most of the evening before the simultaneous demises of Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo promoted him to 9th.

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It had been a hectic start however for the rookie who found himself - quite literally - in the heat of the moment.

"My start was very bad, I was a little bit safe into turns one and two," he said.

"Exiting Turn 3 I had a Racing Point throwing like fire into my face and that kind of distracted me. I pulled out, then he braked and I was thinking 'has he had damage? What’s going on?', that kind of thing and I was a bit flustered.

"When Stroll had all those sparks flying and I was right behind him it was really hot and I could feel it the heat.

"I thought, 'I have to get out of this', but I was also trying to avoid him and the flames!'

"Obviously we were a bit lucky with the Renaults, but I’ll take it."

Embroiled with his rivals in an intense mid-field battle, Albon was kept busy all evening, but the Toro Rosso charger admitted to having fun dicing in the pack.

"I felt like I was always fighting with someone at some point, there was always something to do!" he added.

"It was a challenge to overtake because when you get close to another car the tyres overheat and you get a bit stuck.

"However, I enjoyed myself out there and it was good to get that experience. I’m very happy to pick up my first points in Formula 1 and I hope we can carry this pace into China."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.