Luke Browning shall be Williams reserve driver this season, whereas additionally competing in his debut season of the Japanese Tremendous Components Championship with Workforce Kondo Racing.
The Grove crew has additionally confirmed the line-up of its driver academy as the kids make the subsequent steps of their careers.
Browning takes on the reserve position 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 vital position in serving to to return the crew to the entrance of the grid as the game enters an all-new rules period. Along with race weekend stand-by duties, he’ll proceed to assist growing the automotive via information evaluation and simulator work.
He’ll mix this with racing for Workforce Kondo Racing in Tremendous Components – Japan’s premier racing collection, thought of 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 gained the distinguished Macau Grand Prix that yr 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 position, Browning has made three FP1 appearances within the FW47, constructing information of the automotive’s traits and embedding with the trackside crew. He has additionally taken half within the Testing of Earlier Vehicles (TPC) programme, driving the FW45.
His ascent via the motorsport ladder continues the Academy’s custom of giving younger expertise a path into F1. The Driver Academy has strengthened yr on yr, 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 reaching 13 factors finishes and two podiums
Jade Jacquet (France) joins the Driver Academy as Atlassian Williams F1 Workforce’s consultant in F1 Academy, racing with ART Grand Prix. Jade transitioned to single seaters after solely a yr 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 yr. 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, reaching two titles together with FIA Karting European Junior Champion and WSK Tremendous Grasp Sequence OKJ Champion
Will Inexperienced (UK) builds on his sturdy performances in 2025, having stepped on the highest step thrice throughout the yr, and can problem for a second yr 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 yr,” mentioned Browning. “The Academy has been instrumental in my development, supporting me via each Components 3 and Components 2 whereas giving me the prospect to stand up to hurry with trendy F1 equipment via testing and FP1 classes. I look ahead to working alongside Alex and Carlos to drive the crew ahead on this new period for Components 1.
“I am additionally completely happy to verify that 2026 shall be my rookie season in Tremendous Components. This shall be a very new problem, and I am trying 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 probability to indicate how I’ve developed on monitor and proceed to construct my expertise in a brand new atmosphere and tradition.”
“It is a proud second to see Luke moving into the reserve driver position from 2026,” mentioned James Vowles. “He has made immense progress since he joined the Academy in 2023 and has supported the crew’s journey again to the entrance of the grid via his involvement in simulator and FP1 work, which has been invaluable as we enter this new period of rules. His Tremendous Components marketing campaign will enable him to achieve extra on-track expertise and proceed his development as a driver, and we look ahead to seeing him again on monitor as he enters this subsequent stage of his racing profession.”
“We’re happy to verify our academy line-up for this yr,” added Sven Smeets, Sporting Director, “and recognise the depth of expertise progressing via the programme, from our youngest driver in Lucas to Luke’s position as reserve. The motive force academy stays a central a part of how we help and information younger expertise and look ahead to seeing how every driver performs this yr.”
