Atlassian Williams Racing have announced that Williams Racing Academy Driver Luke Browning will get behind the wheel of Carlos Sainz’s FW47 in the first Bahrain Free Practice session, as a part of the four mandatory rookie driver sessions this year.
Recently stepping up from a successful F3 season, finishing third in the drivers’ standings with Hitech Grand Prix, he has continued with the team as he graduates to Formula 2 to make his full-season debut, and has already proven that he is a title contender, taking a podium on debut.
Browning joined the British team’s academy in late April of 2023, after an impressive junior career: taking the British F4 and GB3 titles, as well as winning the Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award in 2022.
Another highlight in the Brit’s career was his dominant display in the 2023 Macau Grand Prix, leaving fans and competitors amazed as he led every lap of Saturday’s Qualifying Race and dominated every lap of Sunday’s main event.
Browning showed everyone what he was capable of, proving Williams made the right choice in signing him.
He had his first taste of Formula 1 with Williams Racing during the 2024 Abu Dhabi Free Practice, finishing his debut session in 20th after he drove 22 laps, gaining important experience for himself and strong data for the team.
He later participated in the Post-Season Young Driver’s test, narrowly finishing out of the top 10 as he finished P11 in the final classification, less than a second of pace-setter Charles Leclerc, and ahead of four current F1 drivers: Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
