Formula 1 chief Ross Brawn be♔lieves🌺 Alex Albon is “doing a good enough job” to warrant retaining his Red Bull seat for the 2021 season.

After finishing outside of the points in a difficult race at Monza while Pierre Gasly - who Albon replaced at Red Bull mid-way through last season - clai♏med a shock maiden win for AlphaTauri, the Thai racer bounced back in sty💮le to record his first F1 podium at the Tuscan Grand Prix.

Despite being re🌠peatedly backed by Red Bull bosses Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, Albon had found himself under increasing pressure after struggling to match the level of performance ꦚmanaged by teammate Max Verstappen so far this season.

But in claiming a long-awaited first podium, Albon has provided the per🍸fect answer to any criticism he has faced, according to Braw🧸n.

“Alex Albon has had a fair bit of flak this season, and will have found it hard to see Pierre Gasly – the driver he replaced at Red Bull midway through last year – secure his maiden victory last weekend while he failed to score,” Braw🐬n said.

“But at Mugello, h🌟e drove beautifully – and he certainly had to work for it. Some of his overtaking moves were outstanding, particularly the pass on Daniel Ricciardo for third.

“In Max Verstappen, Albon has a stellarꦕ teammate and it’s always going to be challenging for him – or anyone in that seat.

“I think he’s doing a good enough job t𝔍o maintain his seat – and this ꧒podium will have done wonders for his confidence.”

Horner concurred with Brawn’s assessment, sꦕtating that a maiden rostrum appearance will boos🍬t Albon’s confidence.

And Horner - who played down talk of a possible reverse se🦄at swap between Albon and Gasly - has backed his driver to continue to make great strides in the remainder of the campaign.

"This podium for him will give him a boost of🦂 confidence and self-belief,” Horner told Sky F1 after the race. “I think he really will build from here quite nicely."