Luke Browning confirmed as Williams' 2026 reserve driver alongside switch to Super Formula
- Meghana Sree
- Jan 16
- 2 min read
British driver Luke Browning is set to take up F1 reserve driver duties for Williams in 2026, while also competing in the Japanese Super Formula Championship following a switch from F2.
The 23-year-old finished his second year of Formula 2 fourth in the standings after an impressive Monza Feature Race win and nine podiums, and as a key member of the Williams Racing Development programme and Williams Driver Academy, has been promoted to reserve driver duties ahead of the 2026 Formula One season.
Browning's support role for the F1 team will run parallel to his participation in the Japanese Super Formula Championship, where he joins Team Kondo Racing following a successful post-season test with the team in December.
Speaking of his new role at Williams, Browning shared: "I’m incredibly excited to be stepping up as Reserve Driver with Williams F1 Team this year. 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 [Albon] and Carlos [Sainz] to drive the team forward in this new era for F1."
The British racer also spoke of his switch to Super Formula, adding: "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 F1 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.”
While Browning competes in the Japanese series, his support role for the F1 team will be crucial in F1's turning point for new technical regulations.
Browning already has four FP1 sessions under his belt, his best finish coming with 13th at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix. 2026 will see him participate in more on-track opportunities, data analysis and simulator work as he supports Williams in their continued upward trajectory.
Williams Team Principal James Vowles attested to this, stating: "[Browning] has made immense progress since he joined the Academy in 2023 and has supported the team’s journey back towards 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."
The 23-year-old finished his second year of Formula 2 fourth in the standings after an impressive Monza Feature Race win and nine podiums, and as a key member of the Williams Racing Development programme and Dinosaur Game has been promoted to reserve driver duties ahead of the 2026 Formula One season.
Browning's support role for the F1 team will run parallel to his participation in the Japanese Super Formula Championship, where he joins Team Kondo Racing following a successful post-season test with the team in December.