Williams confirmed that Luke Browning will participate in two TL1 sessions in Formula 1 later this month. The team’s reserve driver will be in Alex Albon’s car at the Spanish Grand Prix and will take Carlos Sainz’s place during TL1 for the Austrian Grand Prix.
These opportunities mark an important step in the Briton’s progression within the team. In addition to his duties at Williams, Browning is also contesting his rookie season in Super Formula in 2026, balancing the development program with on-track commitments.
The appearances in Barcelona and at the Red Bull Ring will mark Browning’s first contact with the FW48, the current-generation car of the category. The driver had already accumulated experience in four TL1 sessions with Williams between 2024 and 2025, but had not yet driven the model used this season.
Excited about the opportunity, the young driver highlighted the work done to arrive prepared for the two weekends: “I can’t wait to drive the FW48 for the first time, and to have two chances to try the car during the European phase of the season, this makes it even more special. I’ve been working hard to make the most of these sessions and help the team prepare for race weekends,” he said.
Browning also thanked the team for the confidence placed in his development: “I am extremely grateful to everyone at the Atlassian Williams F1 Team for the trust and ongoing support. I am looking forward to getting back on track,” he added.
Williams’ sporting director, Sven Smeets, stated that the driver has been demonstrating his importance to the team both in simulator work and on-track performances. According to him, the opportunity represents a natural evolution within the team’s program: “Luke continues proving he is a valuable part of the team. Giving him the first opportunity to drive the FW48 over two weekends is an important step in his development,” he said.
Smeets also highlighted Williams’ commitment to nurturing new talent: “We have a very talented group of young drivers in Williams’ academy and we’re pleased to continue offering opportunities like this to support their progression and development,” he added.
Browning’s appearances help Williams meet Formula 1’s requirement to use rookie drivers in four TL1 sessions over the course of the season. So far, few teams have fulfilled this requirement in 2026, a scenario influenced by the calendar, the high number of Sprint events and the postponement of some races that could have served as opportunities for newcomers.
