At Barcelona and Austria Grands Prix
Atlassian Williams F1 has confirmed that Reserve Driver and Academy member, Luke Browning, will step into the driving seat of Alex Albon’s FW48 for free practice 1 at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix and Carlos Sainz’s FW48 at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Luke has already accumulated considerable mileage behind the wheel of Williams machinery, and these outings will mark his fourth and fifth FP1 appearances with the team. For a driver who has continued to impress at every stage of his development, the opportunity to take part in two practice sessions during the European season represents a natural next step in his development.
These FP1 sessions will mark the first time Luke has driven under the new technical regulations and provides a valuable opportunity for him to experience the new generation of car first-hand, developing his understanding of its characteristics and helping the team refine and improve the package for the remainder of the season. It also fulfils two of the team's mandated rookie sessions this season.
Luke was promoted to Reserve Driver for 2026 after securing third place in the F3 Championship in 2024 and fourth place in the highly-competitive 2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship as part of the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy. As Reserve Driver, Luke plays an important role in helping to develop the FW48 by providing invaluable sim data and analysis and attending the majority of Grands Prix throughout the year.
This season Luke has also been racing for Team Kondo Racing in Super Formula – Japan’s premier racing series, considered to be the second-fastest racing series in the world behind Formula 1 – where he currently sits eighth in the championship.
Luke’s participation in FP1 sessions is part of Williams’ proud tradition of giving young talent a pathway into F1. The Driver Academy supports drivers on every rung of the motorsport ladder, bringing emerging drivers into the programme and supporting each driver as they advance toward the highest levels of competition.
Luke Browning: “I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the FW48 for the first time, and to have two opportunities to experience the car first-hand in the European season makes it even more special. I've been working hard to prepare so that I can make the most of these sessions and help the team plan and prepare for the race weekends ahead. I’m incredibly thankful to everyone at Atlassian Williams F1 Team for their continued trust and support, and I can’t wait to get out on track.”
Sven Smeets, Sporting Director: "Luke continues to prove himself as a valuable part of the team, both through his simulator work and his performances on track. Giving him his first opportunity to get behind the wheel of the FW48 across two race weekends is an important step in his development and a natural progression. We have a talented group of young drivers in the Williams F1 Team Drivers Academy, and we're pleased to continue providing opportunities like this to support drivers' progression and development."
