Former Alpine academy driver, Victor Martins has signed for the Williams’ Driver Academy.

Martins, currently in his third season of Formula 2, will take part in a test this weekend at Monza, running a 2023 specification of the FW45, alongside fellow Formula 2 driver and driver academy member Luke Browning

The ART Grand Prix driver won the Formula Renault Eurocup with the team in 2020, which was later followed by the Formula 3 championship in 2022.

Williams Sporting Director, Sven Smeets said that Martins “has repeatedly demonstrated that he is a talented driver who is capable of winning championships.”

During his first season in Formula 2, Martins took one victory in the Sprint Race in Circuit de Catalunya, helping him to achieve top rookie finishing in fifth place.

Now in his third season, Martins took pole position at the first race in Australia but was unable to retain it as the race was canceled due to bad weather.

Before the start of the 2025 Formula 2 season, Martins took part in Race of Champions and also represented Team France alongside fellow countryman and rally driver Sébastien Loeb, where they won the Nations Cup.

Martins’ move comes just two months after Franco Colapinto switched from the Williams Driver Academy to Alpine, becoming one of the four current reserve drivers.

Talking about joining Williams, Martins describes Williams as an “iconic team with an incredible history” where he believes “this is the best place to be to help me achieve my goals.”

Martins said:  “This year, I’ll put all my focus into winning the Formula 2 drivers’ championship with ART Grand Prix” but also “maximising this opportunity with the Driver Academy both on and off the track.”

He becomes the ninth member of the academy joining: Lia Block, Lucas Palacio, Will Green, Alessandro Giusti, Oleksandr Bondarev, Sara Mattsui, Dean Hoogendoorn, and Luke Browning.

Image: Williams Racing