The off-track stories in Formula 1 are oftentimes just as interesting or even more so than the stuff that goes on the track. In a recent conversation on the ‘High Performance’ YouTube channel, Alex Albon, the Thai-British driver, shared the story of how he got into Formula 1. Known for his stints with Red Bull Racing during his early days in the sport, Albon spilled the beans on a chilling episode that unfolded during his quest for an F1 seat.

With the 2018 Formula 2 season winding down, the prospect of the now-Williams driver entering the world of Formula 1 seemed remote. Not known by many, Alex Albon was on the verge of signing a Formula E contract, resigning himself to a different trajectory in motorsport. However, it was a last-minute call from Helmut Marko that changed the fate of the 27-year-old driver.

Helmut Marko caught on to the sneaky tactics of Alex Albon

Racing in Formula 1 is something almost every driver dreams of. While competing in F2 in 2018, that was Albon’s dream, too. But as the races ticked by and no offers from F1 teams came his way, all he was left with was the second-best option—Formula E. But in a desperate attempt to explore any last-minute F1 opportunities, Albon reached out to Helmut Marko, the head of the Red Bull Junior Program. The Williams driver recounted, “I got approached to do Formula E, and I thought, ‘Amazing, that’s great.’ I called Helmut Marko before I signed the contract just to say, ‘Out of any chance, is there a seat going in F1 before I sign this Formula E contract?’”

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To Albon’s dismay, Marko assured him that all F1 seats were filled. So, Albon decided to take up the Formula E opportunity that was presented to him earlier. However, Marko, the man who had assured Albon of a lack of available F1 seats, approached him during the final race of the 2018 F2 season. In the interview for a seat with Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri), the Red Bull advisor inquired about Albon’s salary at Mercedes, where he was engaged in simulator services.

“He got his PA to come over and speak to me and say, ‘Do you mind just popping into Helmut’s office at the circuit,’ and we had a chat about the simulator. He wanted to know… I was actually at the simulator at Mercedes, doing work for them. He wanted to know how much I got paid at Mercedes. I gave him a big number, and then he said, ‘Okay, can I see it then?’ I was like, ‘Oh God, I’ve just lied about this,’” Albon confessed.

READ MORE: Alex Albon Played a Vital Role in George Russell’s F1 Career & How the Mercedes Driver Paid Him Back

That’s all in the past now, though. The Thai-British driver got a shot at Toro Rosso and eventually at Red Bull. However, his time with the works team was relatively short-lived. Considering that, he also talked about Red Bull’s ‘second seat curse,’ which has become a topic of much speculation in the Formula 1 community.

Why do Max Verstappen’s teammates always seem to struggle against him?

Many believe that being a teammate to Max Verstappen is a formidable challenge, with whispers suggesting that the team caters primarily to the Dutch driver’s needs. Having experienced the rigors of this alleged curse, Alex Albon took the opportunity to set the record straight. In a candid discussion on the podcast, Albon dismissed the notion that Red Bull builds their cars exclusively for Verstappen’s benefit. He shed light on the unique driving style of his former teammate and debunked the myths surrounding the supposed curse.

“[Verstappen] has a quite unique driving style, actually. I would say my driving style is a bit more on the smooth side, but I like a car that has a good front end, so quite sharp, [and] quite direct. Max does, too, but his level of sharp and direct is kind of another. It’s a whole different level,” Albon explained. Drawing an analogy that resonated with gamers, Albon likened Verstappen’s sharpness to turning a mouse’s sensitivity to the highest setting. He emphasized that Verstappen’s demand for increased sharpness in the car with each race posed a challenge for teammates who couldn’t adapt swiftly.

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Do you think Max Verstappen will ever have a teammate who can take the fight to him during the course of an entire season?