Williams has promoted its Driver Academy star and Super Formula debutant Luke Browning to the role of reserve driver for the upcoming Formula 1 campaign.
The British youngster shone for Hitech in Formula 2 last season, scoring one victory and a further eight podiums, finishing fourth in the Drivers’ standings.
Browning was also afforded three FP1 outings for the Grove-based squad, as the 23-year-old’s stock continued to rise.
But instead of another year in F2, Browning has been announced as one of Kondo Racing’s two drivers in the 2026 instalment of the Japanese Super Formula series.
This will dovetail with his reserve duties with Williams, whose Team Principal James Vowles said his behind-the-scenes commitment has been “invaluable” in the team’s preparations for the season ahead.
“It’s a proud moment to see Luke stepping into the Reserve Driver role from 2026,” he said. “He has made immense progress since he joined the Academy in 2023 and has supported the team’s journey back to the front of the grid through his involvement in simulator and FP1 work, which has been invaluable as we enter this new era of regulations.
“His Super Formula campaign will allow him to gain more on-track experience and continue his growth as a driver, and we look forward to seeing him back on track as he enters this next stage of his racing career.”
Browning ready for ‘complete new challenge’
Browning said he was keen to make the next step in his career, and heralded the “completely new challenge” of Super Formula, where he is expected to be team-mates with ex-Alpine driver Jack Doohan.
“I’m incredibly excited to be stepping up as Reserve Driver with Atlassian Williams F1 Team this year,” he said.
“The Academy has been instrumental in my growth, supporting me through both Formula 3 and Formula 2 while giving me the chance to get up to speed with modern F1 machinery through testing and FP1 sessions.
“I look forward to working alongside Alex and Carlos to drive the team forward in this new era for Formula 1.
“I’m also happy to confirm that 2026 will be my rookie season in Super Formula. This will be a completely new challenge, and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in!
“As my next step up towards a full-time Formula 1 seat, this gives me another chance to show how I’ve developed on track and continue to build my skills in a new environment and culture.”
Browning will play a key role with Williams, which, as he told in a recent exclusive interview with Motorsport Week, believes is on track for a continued resurgence, saying “everyone’s getting behind the underdog story of we can, we can do this. And yeah, we’re not lacking anything.”
READ MORE – Exclusive: Luke Browning revelling in the ‘amazing process’ of Williams academy role
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