Williams has announced Alex Albon will remain with the team for the 2023 Formula 1 season and beyond on a new multi-year deal.

Albon joined Williams this year after spending 2021 on the sidelines as Red Bull’s reserve driver having lost his seat at the Milton Keynes-based outfit.

Red Bull allowed Albon to be leave its fold to make the switch to Williams as a fully-fledged driver, but he remains in a partnership with the team, running its logos on his helmet.

While Williams has struggled to adapt to the new technical regulations as it sits bottom of the constructors’ championship heading into the summer break, Albon has impressed in the first season at the team.

The Anglo-Thai driver opened his and the team’s 2022 account at the Australian Grand Prix through an unconventional strategy, managing 57 laps on one set of tyres before pitting on the final lap to score a 10th place finish.

Albon would follow this up with another standout performance in Miami, charging from 18th on the grid to finish a season-best ninth.

“It’s really exciting to be staying with Williams Racing for 2023 and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve as a team in the remainder of this season and next year,” Albon said.

“The team is pushing hard to progress, and I am really motivated to continue this journey and further develop our learnings together.”

Albon has consistently outperformed team-mate Nicholas Latifi over the first half of the campaign, leading the qualifying head-to-head 11-2 and finishing ahead in 10 of the 13 races.

Williams CEO and team principal Jost Capito believes re-signing Albon will aid the team’s progress in the long term.

“Alex is a tremendous driver and valued member of Williams Racing, so we’re thrilled to be able to confirm we will be working with him on a long-term basis,” Capito said.

“Alex brings a great blend of skill and insightful learnings that will help bring the team greater success in the future.

“He’s a fierce competitor, has proved a popular and loyal team member and we are delighted that he will provide a stable base for us to continue to develop in this new F1 car era.”

Williams is yet to confirm who will partner Albon in 2023, with Latifi’s future at the Grove outfit unclear amid his struggle to adjust to the 2022 cars.

Oscar Piastri was tipped to join Williams on loan from Alpine for his rookie season, but the Australian I set to be embroiled in a tug of war over his services after denying he would race for Alpine just hours after it announced him as its driver for next year.