Luke Browning to drive in Williams FP1 session later this season

Williams announced that academy driver Luke Browning will take part in a Formula 1 first practice session later this season, stepping into Carlos Sainz’s FW47 for a one hour FP1 run. The team confirmed the outing will fulfil one of the mandated rookie-driver sessions, but reports differ on the venue, identifying either the Mexico City Grand Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez or the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin as the likely occasion.

Browning, 23, arrives at the opportunity after a strong season in FIA Formula 2, where he sits third in the championship with two rounds remaining. He has previously driven in FP1 for Williams at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, and has logged extensive work in the team’s simulator and in the Testing of Previous Cars programme. Williams said the planned FP1 run will be his third free-practice outing for the team this year and another step in his development as a Williams Racing Academy driver.

“I’ve been working hard to prepare for the session so I can make the most of this amazing opportunity and help the team plan for the race weekend ahead,” Browning said. “I can’t wait...