Lewis Hamilton believes F1 rookie Alex Albon has a great future in front of him, the Mercedes star urging Red Bull to "be good" to their rising young talent.
After a rocky start to his Mexican Grand Prix weekend marked by a big crash on Friday, Albon recovered to shine in the early stages of last Sunday's race, running in third position for several laps ahead of Hamilton himself.
The British-Thai racer eventually finished fifth after an impeccable driver during which he never put a foot wrong.
"He was obviously just in front of me for a while and then he pitted, right? He was driving really well, not making any, or too many mistakes," recalled Hamilton in the post-race presser.
Over a year ago, as a competitor in F2, Albon's future looked uncertain, with DAMS contracting with its young charger on race by race basis.
His talent did not go unnoticed however as Nissan threw him a lifeline to race in Formula E. But when Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko came knocking, Albon's life was suddenly turned around again.
The 22-year-old thus went in a few months from a bleak future to becoming a bona fide Grand Prix driver racing for Toro Rosso. Albon's performances coupled with Pierre Gasly's shortfall warranted his mid-season promotion to the senior bull outfit where he joined the intrepid Max Verstappen.
And since his graduation to RBR, Albon has finished in the top six in every one of his six races with the Milton Keynes-based team.
"I think this year has been… it’s a real challenge to go up against a driver that’s been spoken so highly of by so many people and built up onto a pedestal," Hamilton continued.
"And to come in so young, and with all the difficulties he’s had in his life as well, his life story is quite an interesting one, against all adversity.
“It was quite cool to just sit and view him for a second. He pitted very early, I’m not quite exactly sure why but they obviously then went onto the two-stop strategy and I didn’t really see him again after that."
Hamilton is convinced that a great future awaits Albon, but the five-time world champion hopes that Red Bull and the good Doctor Marko will treat him well.
"He's got a bright future ahead of him," said the 83-time Grand Prix winner.
"I hope Red Bull give him the support over the years. It’s very, very important because they often spit drivers out pretty quick if they don’t always do the job. I hope they’re good to him."
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