Alex Albon Ansusinha, born on March 23, 1996, in London, England, is a Thai-British racing driver who competes under the Thai flag in Formula One for Williams Racing. Known for his stylish overtaking and competitive spirit, Albon has carved a notable path in motorsport, rising from karting prodigy to a respected figure on the F1 grid.
His multicultural background, with a British father and a Thai mother, has shaped his identity, leading him to race under the Thai flag to honor his heritage while holding dual British and Thai nationality. Albon’s journey to Formula 1 has been marked by resilience, family support, and a determination to overcome personal and professional challenges.
Alex Albon parents
Alexander’s parents, Nigel and Kankamol Albon, have played significant roles in shaping his life and career, each bringing distinct influences from their backgrounds. Nigel Albon, born on February 8, 1957, is a former British racing driver whose career spanned from 1993 to 2007. He competed in various championships, including the Renault Clio Cup, where he finished fifth in 1993, and the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in 1994, racing a Renault 19 for Harlow Motorsport and placing equal fifth in the Total Independents Cup with 108 points. Nigel’s career also included stints in the FIA GT Championship and a victory in the 2002 Sepang 12 Hours endurance race with a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. His final racing years were spent in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, achieving a best finish of fourth in 2007. Nigel’s passion for motorsport deeply influenced Alex, who credits his father for introducing him to racing and providing hands-on guidance, including daily practice sessions after school when Alex was seven. Nigel’s presence at Alex’s early races and his gift of a go-kart were pivotal in sparking his son’s racing career.
Kankamol Albon, Alex’s mother, hails from Thailand and holds American citizenship in addition to her Thai nationality. Her life took a dramatic turn when she was convicted of fraud in 2012 for running an illegal exotic car dealership, defrauding investors of approximately £7.5 million by promising high profits on luxury car sales that were never delivered. Arrested in 2008 and sentenced to six years in prison, Kankamol’s actions led to the repossession of her £4 million Essex home and the sale of personal assets to recover funds. Released in 2015, she has since reconciled with Alex, who was 15 at the time of her imprisonment and described it as the hardest year of his life, impacting his confidence and early single-seater racing career. Despite this adversity, Kankamol has remained a supportive figure, and Alex has publicly forgiven her, as highlighted in Netflix’s Drive to Survive. Together, Nigel and Kankamol raised Alex and his four siblings—brother Luca and sisters Chloe, Zoe, and Alicia—in Bures, Suffolk, fostering a close-knit family that shares a love for pets, with an Instagram account, Albon Pets, showcasing their twelve cats, dog, and two horses.
Career
Albon’s racing journey began at age eight with karting, where he quickly excelled, winning his local Hoddesdon Championship and later securing titles such as the Kartmasters British Grand Prix, Super 1 National Honda Cadet Championship, and the CIK-FIA World Cup and European Championship in 2010. Transitioning to single-seaters in 2012, he joined the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup with EPIC Racing but struggled to score points, finishing 38th. After three seasons in Formula Renault, Albon moved to the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in 2015, establishing himself as a strong rookie. In 2016, he raced in the GP3 Series with ART Grand Prix, finishing runner-up to Charles Leclerc. His progression continued in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, where he placed third in 2018 with DAMS, catching the attention of Formula 1 teams.
Albon’s F1 debut came in 2019 with Toro Rosso, where his impressive performances led to a mid-season promotion to Red Bull Racing, replacing Pierre Gasly. Partnering Max Verstappen, he achieved top-six finishes in eight of nine races that year, including a career-best fourth at the Japanese Grand Prix. In 2020, Albon secured his maiden podiums at the Tuscan and Bahrain Grands Prix, becoming the first Thai driver to achieve an F1 podium. However, struggling to match Verstappen’s pace, he was replaced by Sergio Pérez in 2021 and served as a reserve driver for Red Bull and AlphaTauri while competing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM), where he earned a podium and a win. Albon returned to F1 in 2022 with Williams, replacing George Russell, and has since established himself as a consistent points-scorer, helping Williams secure ninth in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship. As of the 2025 season, he remains with Williams, partnered with Carlos Sainz, and continues to build his reputation as a fast qualifier and mature racer.
Accolades
Albon’s career is adorned with several notable achievements across various racing series. In karting, he claimed victories in the 2006 Kartmasters British Grand Prix (Comer Cadet), 2006 Super 1 National Honda Cadet Championship, 2008 Kartmasters British Grand Prix (KF3), 2009 Formula Kart Stars Championship, 2009 Super 1 National KF3 Championship, 2010 KF Winter Series, and both the 2010 CIK-FIA World Cup and European Championship.
In single-seaters, he finished third in the 2014 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and second in the 2016 GP3 Series. His third-place finish in the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship was a critical stepping stone to F1. In Formula 1, Albon’s two podium finishes in 2020 (third at the Tuscan and Bahrain Grands Prix) mark him as the first Thai driver to achieve this feat. His DTM win at the Nürburgring in 2021 further highlights his versatility. Recognized as one of Formula 1’s rising stars, Albon was included in Forbes’ 2021 30 Under 30 Asia list for Entertainment and Sports, reflecting his growing influence in the sport.