Albon says RB16 'more predictable' after Turkey tweaks

©RedBull

Alex Albon says changes trialed on Red Bull's RB16 in Turkey have made the edgy car "more predictable" and are leading the team in the right direction.

Albon qualified fourth at Istanbul Park in wet conditions that extended into Sunday's race which the British-Thai racer concluded seventh after a spin deprived him of a likely top-three finish.

The 24-year-old is fighting to keep his seat at Red Bull for next season, while free agents Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg are waiting in the wings.

While last Sunday's result could have perhaps been better, Albon believes the progress achieved by Red Bull's RB16 in Turkey bodes well for his chances of booting his stock next in Bahrain.

©RedBull

"It was a good weekend for me and we tried some things on my car which we think made it more predictable," Albon said.

"As a Team we were also very strong and considering how well we started the weekend it is a little frustrating to come away with so little but there are a lot of positives to take from Turkey.

"I’m confident we’re headed in the right direction. On my side, things have been getting better and I was happy with the car on the simulator so now I’m looking forward to arriving in Bahrain and seeing what we've got."

Button sees shades of his former rookie self in Albon

Last weekend, Red Bull said that the call on Albon's future will likely be made after the final round of the 2020 season in Abu Dhabi, a decision that hands the latter a reprieve.

"As I’ve said all along, we want to see Alex lay claim to that seat," said Horner.

"And I think the difference is, with the alternatives we have, all the seats are full in F1.

"So that buys us a bit of time to make the most informed decision that we can and give Alex as much time as we possibly can, as much support as we can and see what happens over the remaining three or four races."

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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.