  Simple algebraic groups of type $F_4$ defined over a field $k$ are the full
automorphism groups of Albert algebras over $k$. Let $A$ be an Albert algebra
over a field $k$ of arbitrary characteristic. We prove that there is an isotope
$A^{(v)}$ of $A$ such that the group $\text{\bf Aut}(A^{(v)})$ is $R$-trivial,
in the sense of Manin.
