Red Bull 2021 hangover dismissed due to "smart" approach

Alex Albon is convinced there will be no F1 title-winning hangover from Red Bull this year despite the team's focus on helping Max Verstappen become champion.

As test and reserve driver for Red Bull last season ahead of a move to Williams over the winter, Albon has revealed to splitting his time equally over 2021 working on last year's car and this year's challenger preparing for the new aerodynamic regulations.

Albon has confirmed, though, that as the season drew to a tense conclusion, and as Red Bull challenged Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton for the championships, so goals changed.

Speaking to motorsport-total, Albon said: "As the championship got closer and closer we stopped focusing on next year's car and started focusing more on this year's car.

"Especially in the last two races in Jeddah and Abu Dhabi we tried a little harder than usual, and yes, it worked well."

Albon is adamant, however, that 'switch off', as Verstappen ultimately beat Hamilton to claim his maiden crown, will not be detrimental to the team's cause this year.

"In some ways, you only have to think short term in the championship," added Albon.

"When you have the car at the start of a season to win the championship, to win, you have to put everything on one card but it's not like we dropped everything to focus on the past year.

"We've been smart and Red Bull has always been good at adapting to the regulations in the past with Adrian [Newey] and the aerodynamicists.

"They've always been smart in that regard, so I don't think they will be in a bad position [this year]."

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