Alex Q&A: Part 1
Albono chats his early career, old F1 cars and crazy fan tattoos in the first part of this Q&A
Published
14 Aug 2024
Est Reading Time
3 min
Alex sat down to answer some your fan questions from throughout the 2024 season! See what Albono had to say below...
What encouraged you to be an F1 driver?
“For me it was my Dad that got me started. I was seven years old and my dad bought me my first go kart. We lived next to a farm, and this farm had concrete at the bottom of the barn, so after school every day he would setup bricks around the barn and I would drive a figure of eight. He would time me and I remember I would get really dizzy because I was just driving around in circles the whole time, but that's how I got started.”
How is the switch from Formula 2 to Formula 1?
“If you go back, in terms of driving, the speed of the cars has always been a big jump across the years. But we've been driving since we were eight years old, so the speed of a car is actually the thing we know best. What I felt the biggest difference with was all the things that come around being in F1 and always being in the spotlight.
I remember my first test in a Formula 1 car, I had a spin into the gravel trap and I thought nothing of it. But there were about 20 different TV crews waiting for an interview to ask me about why I crashed. And I thought to myself, ‘OK, this is F1.’”
What's the race that you are most proud of in your entire career?
“I would say my most proud race was my first podium in Formula 1. I was not having the easiest season that year and I remember we were in Mugello and it was a really good race. I had a few good battles with other drivers during the race and it was a proud moment just seeing the Thai flag when we were on the podium. To have that flag behind me as the second ever Thai driver in F1 and the first podium finisher from Thailand was incredibly special.”
What's the craziest thing or funniest thing that has happened to you during a race weekend?
“I find the tattoos can be a bit crazy. When people ask you to sign them and then they get it tattooed. I remember one girl at a race told me to draw Stan, one of my cats. And I’m not great at drawing, so I really tried my best to do a good job, but it was really bad. And she then went to get it tattooed on her, so I would probably say that.”
What is an old F1 car that you would love to drive?
“For me, I was a huge fan of Michael Schumacher. So I'd love to drive his car… I think from 2004, which was one the years he won the Drivers’ Championship in.”
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