January 12 will be a memorable day in the career of Frenchman Victor Martins, who was promoted by Williams to a test and development driver in Formula 1 and simultaneously announced as a new member of Alpine in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
A member of the Williams Driver Academy since last year, Martins gained space in the structure led by James Vowles. For the upcoming season, he will work alongside Oliver Turvey and Scott Harrison in a strategic role, focused on the technical development of the team.
According to Williams, the trio “will play a crucial role in advancing the team’s development programs to support our F1 drivers, Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, as the sport undergoes unprecedented technical regulation changes.” Among their responsibilities will be working on the team’s new simulator, which came into operation at the end of last year.
Regarding this new phase, the Frenchman highlighted the challenge. “Williams is an iconic team with an incredible history, and I’m excited to be part of the project to bring this team back to the front of the grid,” he stated. Martins also emphasized his relationship with the team’s drivers: “I already have experience working with Alex and Carlos during racing weekends, and I’m looking forward to continuing this work with the team in 2026.” He concluded by thanking the team’s leadership: “I thank James Vowles, Sven [Smeets, Sporting Director], and everyone at Williams for the opportunity.”
In addition to his new role in Formula 1, Martins also secured a spot on the WEC grid. Alpine hired him to fill a vacancy left by Mick Schumacher, who moved to IndyCar. The Frenchman will drive the A424 and be part of a lineup that includes Frédéric Makowiecki, Jules Gounon, Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg, and Formula E standout Antonio Felix da Costa.
