Albon flew into Thailand amidst the earthquake for discussions about F1.
"It felt like DEFCON 3."
Alex Albon returned to his home country last week with the intention of supporting Thailand's efforts to host a Formula 1 race. However, he arrived right after a devastating earthquake that has claimed at least 3000 lives.
"It felt like DEFCON 3," the British-born Thai driver for Williams told Sky Deutschland. "Everyone was in a state of panic.
"It was almost surreal because I had no mobile internet and could only observe the chaos around me, without understanding the reason behind it. It was a bit unnerving."
Upon checking into his hotel, the alarm continued to sound.
"There were cracks everywhere," Albon shared. "I was astonished that most buildings remained standing. It was rather frightening."
Before the earthquake struck, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali also visited Bangkok, where he, like Albon, met with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
A memorandum of understanding regarding a potential inaugural race in 2028 was later signed.
"We're making strides," said 29-year-old Albon, "even though nothing is finalized yet.
"But it's encouraging to see how seriously Thailand is approaching this. They are very dedicated, and I believe they have a solid plan.
"I've received a general idea of what they’re intending to do, and it appears promising. What they are assembling is quite impressive."
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