Albon to race in DTM with Red Bull backing

Thai racer Alexander Albon will compete in selected rounds of the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) with Red Bull backing this season after losing his Formula One seat to Mexican Sergio Perez.

The DTM said in a statement on Monday that the 24-year-old would race with an as yet unidentified team whenever his Formula One duties as a Red Bull test, reserve and simulator driver allowed.

Albon finished seventh overall in F1 last year but was dropped by Red Bull Racing in December in favour of Perez, a race winner with Racing Point, alongside Dutch driver Max Verstappen.

Red Bull will also back 18-year-old New Zealander Liam Lawson in the DTM.

“The DTM with a high-class field and GT3 sports cars is an interesting platform and a real challenge,” said Red Bull's motorsport consultant Helmut Marko.