Luke Browning might be Williams reserve driver this season, whereas additionally competing in his debut season of the Japanese Tremendous Components Championship with Staff Kondo Racing.
The Grove workforce has additionally confirmed the line-up of its driver academy as the children make the following steps of their careers.
Browning takes on the reserve function following a profitable Components 2 marketing campaign in 2025, securing fourth place with Hitech GP. In his first full-time season within the class, the British driver secured 9 podiums and one victory – a dominant efficiency in Italy the place he claimed pole adopted by a hard-fought win within the function race.
As Reserve, Browning will play an necessary function in serving to to return the workforce to the entrance of the grid as the game enters an all-new laws period. Along with race weekend stand-by duties, he’ll proceed to assist creating the automobile by way of knowledge evaluation and simulator work.
He’ll mix this with racing for Staff Kondo Racing in Tremendous Components – Japan’s premier racing collection, thought-about to be the second-fastest racing collection on the earth behind Components 1.
The commencement to Reserve Driver and Tremendous Components marketing campaign is the newest step in Luke’s improvement as a part of the Williams F1 Driver Academy. Becoming a member of the Academy in 2023, the Autosport BRDC Award-winner received the celebrated Macau Grand Prix that 12 months and secured third place within the F3 Championship in 2024 earlier than graduating to F2. Earlier than becoming a member of Williams he was topped champion of each the 2020 F4 British Championship and the 2022 GB3 Championship.
In preparation for the reserve function, Browning has made three FP1 appearances within the FW47, constructing data of the automobile’s traits and embedding with the trackside workforce. He has additionally taken half within the Testing of Earlier Automobiles (TPC) programme, driving the FW45.
His ascent by way of the motorsport ladder continues the Academy’s custom of giving younger expertise a path into F1. The Driver Academy has strengthened 12 months on 12 months, bringing rising stars into the programme and supporting every driver as they advance towards the best ranges of competitors.
Alongside Luke, the 2026 Williams F1 Driver Academy line-up is as follows:
Alessandro Giusti (France) will compete in his second season in FIA Components 3 with MP Motorsport, focusing on the championship title following a robust debut season attaining 13 factors finishes and two podiums
Jade Jacquet (France) joins the Driver Academy as Atlassian Williams F1 Staff’s consultant in F1 Academy, racing with ART Grand Prix. Jade transitioned to single seaters after solely a 12 months of worldwide karting expertise, already impressing in French Components 4 and claiming the Feminine Trophy at Dijon-Prenois
Kean Nakamura-Berta (Japan/Slovakia) is one other new addition, racing in Components Regional Center East and Components Regional European in 2026. Kean has quite a few accolades to his identify, together with reigning Italian Components 4 Champion and 2022 CIK-FIA OK European Champion
Oleksandr Bondarev (Ukraine) will proceed in Italian F4 with Prema Racing for a second 12 months. His sights are firmly set on a championship win as he builds on his learnings from 2025, having secured a race win in Imola and podium in Misano
Dean Hoogendoorn (Netherlands) steps up into OK karting after a stellar 2025, attaining two titles together with FIA Karting European Junior Champion and WSK Tremendous Grasp Sequence OKJ Champion
Will Inexperienced (UK) builds on his robust performances in 2025, having stepped on the highest step thrice throughout the 12 months, and can problem for a second 12 months within the OKJ class
Lucas Palacio (USA) steps up into OKJ karting after being topped WSK Tremendous Grasp Sequence OKNJ Champion at simply 11 years outdated
„I am extremely excited to be stepping up as reserve driver with Williams this 12 months,“ mentioned Browning. „The Academy has been instrumental in my development, supporting me by way of each Components 3 and Components 2 whereas giving me the prospect to rise up to hurry with fashionable F1 equipment by way of testing and FP1 classes. I stay up for working alongside Alex and Carlos to drive the workforce ahead on this new period for Components 1.
„I am additionally completely satisfied to substantiate that 2026 might be my rookie season in Tremendous Components. This might be a very new problem, and I am wanting ahead to getting caught in! As my subsequent step up in the direction of a full-time Components 1 seat, this offers me one other likelihood to point out how I’ve developed on observe and proceed to construct my abilities in a brand new atmosphere and tradition.“
„It is a proud second to see Luke moving into the reserve driver function from 2026,“ mentioned James Vowles. „He has made immense progress since he joined the Academy in 2023 and has supported the workforce’s journey again to the entrance of the grid by way of his involvement in simulator and FP1 work, which has been invaluable as we enter this new period of laws. His Tremendous Components marketing campaign will permit him to realize extra on-track expertise and proceed his development as a driver, and we stay up for seeing him again on observe as he enters this subsequent stage of his racing profession.“
„We’re happy to substantiate our academy line-up for this 12 months,“ added Sven Smeets, Sporting Director, „and recognise the depth of expertise progressing by way of the programme, from our youngest driver in Lucas to Luke’s function as reserve. The driving force academy stays a central a part of how we assist and information younger expertise and stay up for seeing how every driver performs this 12 months.“
