Albon was hailed as one of the stand-out performers of last season, scoring all but one of Williams' 28 points to drag it up to seventh in the constructors' standings.
With over half the grid out of contract for 2025, that made the 28-year-old an enticing prospect for any top team looking to make a change. Albon was still under contract for next year, but never totally ruled out the possibility of leaving early, and team boss James Vowles likewise left the door open for a deal to be done, albeit at a price.
