Williams confirm F1 driver change for Monza FP1

Williams has confirmed that Luke Browning will take over Alex Albon's FW48 for the opening free practice session at the Italian Grand Prix.

The first hour of running at Monza will be the reserve driver's sixth FP1 appearance for the team and his second of the season, fulfilling Williams' second mandated rookie test session of the campaign. Teams are required to field a rookie driver in four practice sessions per season, two per car.

Browning's first outing under the new technical regulations came at the Austrian Grand Prix, where he completed 29 laps in Carlos Sainz's car and finished the session in P18, having been scheduled to run the previous round at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as well, only for car problems to prevent him from making it out of the pit lane.

This time, the Briton, who finished fourth in last year's F2 championship, will step into Albon's machine at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

The 24-year-old, who races full-time in Japan's Super Formula championship with Team Kondo Racing alongside his Williams reserve duties, will use the session to gather data that feeds directly into his simulator work back at the team's Grove factory.

Browning said: "I'm thrilled to have another chance to drive an FP1 session with Williams F1 Team.

"It's a great opportunity to get invaluable laps in the FW48 while building my understanding of the car and helping to bring useful data and feedback back to Grove.

"Each session teaches you something new, and I want to take every bit of learning I can from this to keep pushing my development and the team forward.

"For this weekend, it's about supporting Williams to help maximise the result here in Monza."

Albon will return to the car for the remainder of the weekend, with FP2 and FP3, qualifying and the race to follow across the rest of the round at the Temple of Speed.