Albon says Alonso duel was fun and fair after US GP contact

Alex Albon said he enjoyed racing Fernando Alonso and considered the Aston Martin driver a fair opponent, after Alonso criticised the quality of drivers at the back of the grid. Their United States Grand Prix duel brought contact on the opening lap at Turn 11, damaging Alonso’s car.

Albon tried to pass on the inside at the Turn 11 hairpin. His Williams struck the side of Alonso’s Aston Martin, damaging the left-hand side bargeboard and aerodynamics. Albon said the space narrowed while he was on the inside; he could not get clear over the kerb and continued with a broken front wing.

After the race, Alonso said, “We need to get better and start a bit higher up,” adding that the quality of drivers at the back of the grid was very low. Alonso finished 16th, one place ahead of Albon in 17th. The stewards took no action against Albon over the incident.