Alexander Albon is expecting 2020 to be “a bit more normal” as he continues to bed in with Red Bull following his shock mid-൩season switch to the team over the summer.

Albon was promoted into Red Bull’s senior F1 operation just 12 races into his career in place of the struggling Pierre Gasly, with his performances through the remainder of the season 𒈔doing e🍰nough to clinch him the drive full-time for 2020 alongside Max Verstappen.

It will mark the first time in Albon’s career that he has not switched teams between seasons, giving the Anglo-Thai racer hope that the stability will aid his push 𝐆towards the front of the grid.

“I need to be aware of where I am. I’ve only had a year in F1 and less than ♕half a season with the team, but the goal is to close the gap between me and Max,” Albon said.

“We🔜 want to start a bit stronger. The guys ar𓃲e already working flat out at the factory, we want to keep the pressure on Mercedes and Ferrari. I’m hoping we’ll come into Melbourne near the front.

“I’m feeling that next year will be a bit more normal. This year was my ♏first year and it definitely wasn’t normal.”

Albon came within two laps of a breakthrough podium finish at th🎶e Brazilian Grand Prix in November, only for late contact with Lewis Ha🌱milton to rob him of the result.

Despite being classified out of the points in that race, Albon feels it was ಌproof that he can fight with the fron𓄧t-runners.

“When I look at the weekend as a whole, ther🌠e are a lot more positives than negatives. Brazil, to some extent, was good. I am proud, but I want more,” Albon said.

“Afterwards I was more disappointed for the team rather than myself. I🐠t would’ve been good to get those extra points. But it happens, it’s racing. I wꦅas over it by the next morning.

“We had a taster of what could be in Br𒐪azil and I want to build on꧒ that over the winter so I can be better next year.”