Williams has announced that Luke Browning is to officially become the team's reverse driver in the 2026 F1 season, and also race in Japanese Super Formula.
Browning took part in three rookie FP1 sessions in 2025 as the team evaluated his progress through its academy, with the Briton also finishing fourth overall in the FIA F2 standings.
For 2026, as well as racing for Team Kondo Racing in Super Formula, a common place for F1 teams to send their junior drivers, Browning is to officially become understudy to Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz for F1's new era, including through data analysis and simulator work.
"I’m incredibly excited to be stepping up as Reserve Driver with Williams F1 Team this year," said Browning.
"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 and Carlos to drive the team forward in this new era for Formula 1.
"I’m also happy to confirm that 2026 will be my rookie season in Super Formula. 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 Formula 1 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."
Team principal James Vowles added that it was a "proud moment to see Luke stepping into the reserve driver role.
"He has made immense progress since he joined the Academy in 2023 and has supported the team’s journey back to 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.
"His Super Formula campaign will allow him to gain more on-track experience and continue his growth as a driver, and we look forward to seeing him back on track as he enters this next stage of his racing career."
Williams also announced the makeup of its 2026 driver academy, with the members being French racers Alessandro Giusti and Jade Jacquet, Japanese/Slovak Kean Nakamura-Berta, Ukrainian Oleksandr Bondarev, Dutchman Dean Hoogendoorn, Briton Will Green, and American Lucas Palacio.
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