Does Albon receive more backing by racing under Thai flag?

[DOCG]

Does Albon receive more backing by racing under the Thai flag than he would under the UK flag?

He is a dual British-Thai citizen but races under a Thai super-licence. Maybe being the first F1 driver to represent Thailand since 1954 attracted more sponsors to fund his seat at Williams?

[kambites]

Maybe. Or maybe he just feels more affinity to his Thai nationality than his British?

[DOCG]

kambites said:

Maybe. Or maybe he just feels more affinity to his Thai nationality than his British?

I would like some real details not the infinite "maybe" possibilities.

[cgt2]

I'd always thought it was something to do with his Mum's legal issues a few years ago.

[DOCG]

cgt2 said:

I'd always thought it was something to do with his Mum's legal issues a few years ago.

What legal issues?

[kambites]

DOCG said:

kambites said:

Maybe. Or maybe he just feels more affinity to his Thai nationality than his British?

I would like some real details not the infinite "maybe" possibilities.

Well I can't imagine how you're going to get that unless you can get him or his manager to tell you personally. I doubt anyone else knows for sure.

ETA: I'm pretty sure he's been quoted as saying that racing as a Thai just feels more special than racing as a Brit (or something along those lines) but I'm sure plenty of conspiracy theorists will say he just doesn't want to admit to choosing based on available sponsorship or something.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 5th July 22:21

[DOCG]

kambites said:

DOCG said:

kambites said:

Maybe. Or maybe he just feels more affinity to his Thai nationality than his British?

I would like some real details not the infinite "maybe" possibilities.

Well I can't imagine how you're going to get that unless you can get him or his manager to tell you personally. I doubt anyone else knows for sure.

Someone with knowledge of the business side of F1 might give good insight.

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

His main backer is a Thai. There is some red bull investment from Thailand and they wanted a Thai driver so Albon fitted the bill. Why else would he get a top seat?

[kambites]

Surely he's raced under Thai nationality since long before he became part of the Redbull junior program, let alone got anywhere near F1? Or did he switch later in his career?

[cgt2]

DOCG said:

What legal issues?

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/reason-f1-star-alex-albons-21566798

[Milkyway]

I’m surprised that he isn’t treated like many other dual nationality sports people... When they are doing really well they are referred to as British.

[DOCG]

Can we keep to the information about Albon please? I don't want it to turn into a discussion about when people are celebrated as British or being a conspiracy theorist for thinking there may be additional non-public reasons.

[DOCG]

cgt2 said:

DOCG said:

What legal issues?

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/reason-f1-star-alex-albons-21566798

I don't see how racing under the Thai flag would help that

[cgt2]

DOCG said:

I don't see how racing under the Thai flag would help that

My understanding was that as she was convicted and jailed in the UK with any stigma attached to that and some very angry victims it was more expedient to disassociate with the UK and be Thai. Just my theory.

[thegreenhell]

kambites said:

Surely he's raced under Thai nationality since long before he became part of the Redbull junior program, let alone got anywhere near F1? Or did he switch later in his career?

He raced as British in karting, but switched to being Thai when he graduated to cars. He was a RedBull Junior in his first year in cars, as a Thai, but was dropped after one season after scoring zero points in that season.

It may be coincidence that that first year was 2012, the same year of his mother's court case and imprisonment.

[911r]

Red bull is Thai !

Just all fits in .

[StevieBee]

911r said:

Red bull is Thai !

Not really. It started out there as a drink called Kratin Daeng but is very much an Austrian brand and product.

I believe Albon's decision to race as a Thai is (or was) financially motivated.

It's not commonly known but Norris has dual nationality (Belgium) as well.

[911r]

StevieBee said:

911r said:

Red bull is Thai !

Not really. It started out there as a drink called Kratin Daeng but is very much an Austrian brand and product.

I believe Albon's decision to race as a Thai is (or was) financially motivated.

It's not commonly known but Norris has dual nationality (Belgium) as well.

In my eyes no , I was drinking red bull in my teens in Thailand . I had never heard of it in Europe till many years later . I don’t care who owns it now . It’s a Thai drink !


https://www.historyofbranding.com/redbull/

Owners

Chalerm Yoovidhya (51%) Dietrich Mateschitz (49%)

Your flippant ignorant comment about red bull and origins have quite triggered me .

Edited by 911r on Wednesday 6th July 09:56

[parabolica]

He talked about this in Drive to Survive the first year he was in F1; IIRC he said he had the choice to raise under Thai or the UK and he chose Thai to differentiate himself plus it was going to allow him to attract different sponsors from that neck of the woods instead of fighting for scraps with Lando, George etc.

[PhilAsia]

911r said:

StevieBee said:

911r said:

Red bull is Thai !

Not really. It started out there as a drink called Kratin Daeng but is very much an Austrian brand and product.

I believe Albon's decision to race as a Thai is (or was) financially motivated.

It's not commonly known but Norris has dual nationality (Belgium) as well.

In my eyes no , I was drinking red bull in my teens in Thailand . I had never heard of it in Europe till many years later . I don’t care who owns it now . It’s a Thai drink !


https://www.historyofbranding.com/redbull/

Owners

Chalerm Yoovidhya (51%) Dietrich Mateschitz (49%)

Your flippant ignorant comment about red bull and origins have quite triggered me .

Edited by 911r on Wednesday 6th July 09:56

You are correct. ใจเย็นๆ