Alex Albon confirms Williams tried to sign Tom Hart as Red Bull race engineer rumours gather pace – Alex Albon has indirectly strengthened reports surrounding Red Bull’s plans for Max Verstappen’s future race engineer after confirming Williams made an unsuccessful attempt to recruit Tom Hart.
The Williams driver revealed his team had identified Hart as a leading candidate before Red Bull convinced the highly-rated engineer to remain in Milton Keynes, adding further credibility to speculation that he is being lined up for a larger role alongside Verstappen.
The comments come just days after Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported that Hart is expected to become Verstappen’s new race engineer, with the Briton tipped to gradually take over responsibilities as Red Bull prepares for significant changes to its trackside operation.
Alex Albon confirms Williams’ interest in Tom Hart
Speaking during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, Albon acknowledged that Williams had actively pursued Hart before the move ultimately failed to materialise.
The Thai-British driver, who worked with Hart during his time at Red Bull, admitted the engineer was viewed as one of the team’s preferred candidates.
“We obviously tried with Tom. I think he’s a good guy, a great engineer, but we also have other ideas,” Albon said.
Williams had drawn up a shortlist of potential replacements, with Hart featuring prominently.
“Tom’s name was one on the list that I saw and thought: Yes, Tom would be great.”
Albon also clarified that, despite knowing Hart well, he was not personally involved in attempting to convince him to join Williams.
His comments effectively confirm that discussions took place before Red Bull succeeded in retaining one of its highly regarded engineering talents.
Red Bull determined to keep experienced engineer
Reports suggest Williams had been closing in on an agreement before Red Bull intervened to secure Hart’s future.
The team’s determination to retain him has fuelled speculation that Hart is viewed as an important part of Red Bull’s long-term plans around Verstappen.
According to De Telegraaf, Hart is expected to step into the race engineer role for the Dutch driver next season and could even take over communication duties during one or two race weekends before the end of the current campaign as part of a gradual transition.
Although Red Bull has not publicly confirmed those plans, Albon’s admission that Williams failed in its pursuit provides further evidence that Hart’s future lies with the six-time constructors’ champions.
Williams prepares for engineering reshuffle
Williams’ interest in Hart stems from its own impending changes on the pit wall.
Current race engineer James Urwin is set to leave the role to take on expanded responsibilities at the team’s Grove headquarters, creating a vacancy alongside Albon for next season.
While Hart was viewed as an ideal candidate thanks to his Red Bull experience, Williams is now pursuing alternative options as it finalises its engineering structure.
The move forms part of a broader organisational reshuffle aimed at supporting the team’s continued progress under team principal James Vowles.
Red Bull plans for life after Gianpiero Lambiase
The speculation surrounding Hart also comes against the backdrop of uncertainty over Gianpiero Lambiase’s future.
Lambiase has served as Verstappen’s race engineer throughout the Dutchman’s championship-winning years and has become one of the most recognisable voices on Formula 1 team radio.
However, reports have suggested Lambiase is expected to leave Red Bull for McLaren by 2028 and may no longer work directly with Verstappen from next season.
If those reports prove accurate, Hart appears to be the leading candidate to take over one of the most high-profile engineering roles on the Formula 1 grid.
Neither Red Bull nor Verstappen has commented publicly on the reports, but Albon’s confirmation that Williams attempted to recruit Hart provides the clearest indication yet that the engineer remains a central figure in Red Bull’s future planning.
Would you like to see more TJ13 Formula 1 coverage? Add us to your favourites list on Google to receive trusted F1 news.
Craig Alderson is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Craig oversees newsroom operations and coordinates editorial output across the site. With a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing, he plays a key role in maintaining consistency, speed, and accuracy in TJ13’s coverage.
During race weekends, Craig acts as desk lead, directing contributors, prioritising breaking stories, and ensuring timely publication across a fast-moving news cycle.
Craig’s work focuses heavily on real-time developments in the paddock, including team updates, regulatory decisions, and emerging controversies. This role requires a detailed understanding of Formula 1’s operational flow, from practice sessions through to race-day strategy and post-race fallout.
With experience managing editorial teams, Craig ensures that TJ13 delivers structured, reliable coverage while maintaining the site’s distinctive voice.
Craig has a particular interest in how information moves within the paddock environment, and how rapidly developing stories can be accurately translated into clear, accessible reporting for readers.
