Williams CEO hints at long-term future with Alex Albon as team looks beyond 2022

• Alex Albon will make a Formula 1 comeback in 2022 with the Williams team.

• Albon previously raced for Red Bull, but retains ties with the team that gave him his F1 break.

• Williams CEO hints that he wants Albon in the team for the long run.

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All Jost Capito is willing to say is that Alex Albon is a Williams driver for the 2022 season and no more details of the driver's contract.

Next season, Albon will replace George Russell at Williams with the Brit heading to Mercedes.

Although Red Bull dropped Albon after the 2020 season, the Thai-British racer falling short of the mark that is Max Verstappen. Such is his ability that both Williams and Alfa Romeo were said to be chasing his signature.

Albon, though, wanted to join Williams with Red Bull team boss Christian Horner saying that was his preferred choice. Toto Wolff, whose Mercedes team supplies engines to Williams, felt it should only be possible if Albon broke ties with Red Bull.

Albon to Williams for 2022

He's done just that, at least for 2022, paving the way for the driver to join Williams.

Williams CEO Capito said: "I just can say he is a Williams driver and we decide what he is doing and what he is not doing. He is a Williams driver in 2022; whatever that means is up to you. Maybe you have to ask Red Bull, but for us, he is a Williams driver, and that is it."

Red Bull, though, has retained an "option" on the Thai-British racer for the future.

A spokesperson for the Milton Keynes squad told Motorsport.com: "We have released Alex to become a Williams Racing driver in 2022 but retain a relationship with him that includes future options."

Asked about that, Capito said: "We don't comment on the details of the contract. I can just say again that he is a Williams driver. Whatever happens next year, we can't predict that. We don't know if he will be happy with us, but we are happy with him. We will see where it goes but in general. I don't intend on having drivers going in and out.

"That doesn't mean anything for the contract, but in my mind, it means we want to build the team, and we want to build it long-term, and we will see at this stage where the team is at now. Alex is the right driver."

As for Wolff's thoughts on Albon joining Williams, Capito clarifies that Williams is "not a satellite team" and says Wolff is well aware of this.

He said: "I think Toto at the end, he understands, and we understand that we are not a B-team and we are not a satellite team. We have to make the decisions that are right for us, and Toto fully respects that."