"Did I tell you we are next-door neighbors?": 2x podium finisher reveals he lives next to Carlos Sainz in Monaco

Williams F1 driver Alex Albon reveals that his future teammate and current Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz is his 'next-door neighbor' in Monaco. The Thai driver, like many of his peers, spends most of his time in the principality when he is away from the track and his home.

Several drivers like Max Verstappen, George Russell, Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo, Charles Leclerc, etc, call Monaco home, given it is a tax haven. Ahead of the Azerbaijan GP, Albon, in his pre-race interview, revealed that Sainz was his next-door neighbor in Monaco.

The two-time podium sitter said:

"Did I tell you we are next-door neighbors? Our doors are opposite each other so We hope we're gonna get on well next year! We're in Monaco at different times of the year. I think I bumped into him in the lift twice."

When asked how he would describe the 30-year-old as a 'neighbor', the former Red Bull driver said:

"Fine, quiet, respectful. His apartment is a bit bigger than mine... It's okay. He's the number one (based on apartment), exactly.”

Speaking with F1.com last month, Alex Albon claimed he was looking forward to racing with Carlos Sainz as he believed that the latter was a top driver in the sport. He said:

“Honestly, for myself, it’s just great to have a driver that people respect and people value. I love to go up against top drivers and I feel like we’ll have a great partnership. I think we’re going to learn from each other, and also Carlos’ experience will help bring the team up."

"I’ve been at Williams for a few years now, so to have that different point of view about things can only help us. In terms of the team, I think it will be a big challenge as well," he added.

Alex Albon points out Carlos Sainz's strengths as a driver

Alex Albon stated that Carlos Sainz was highly rated in the F1 paddock and had a lot of experience in the sport, having raced for Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari during his time.

As quoted by the aforementioned source, the 28-year-old spoke about the strengths of the Spanish driver and said:

“I think he’s very detail-oriented and a team like Williams will welcome that always, so it’s great to have him in. I think what he will bring from Ferrari is going to be very valuable to us in terms of our progression as a midfield team.”

Carlos Sainz signed a multi-year contract with the Grove-based outfit after being courted by several teams on the grid for a place in the 2025 season. In his time at Ferrari, the Spaniard secured three wins, five podiums, and 21 podiums in four seasons.