2022 GB3 champion Luke Browning will make his latest appearance in a Formula One FP1 session after being confirmed in the Williams F1 line-up for the opening practice sessions at the forthcoming Mexican and Sao Paulo Grands Prix.
Browning is the team's official reserve driver, and has already participated in several FP1 sessions with the team, including two already in 2026.
The upcoming practice sessions mark Browning's first chance to try the team's major new upgrade package, introduced at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and will pilot Alex Albon's car in Mexico, and Carlos Sainz's FW48 in Mexico.
After winning the GB3 Championship title four years ago, Browning completed two seasons in FIA F3, which included winning the Macau Grand Prix.
He was then a title contender in Formula 2 last year, and currently competes in Japan's Super Formula series, regarded as the second quickest single-seater category in the world, after F1.
“I’m happy to be back in the FW48 and grateful to be trusted by Atlassian Williams F1 Team with all four of the team’s rookie FP1 sessions this year" Browning said.
"It’s a great opportunity to get more laps in the car, while building my understanding of the new package and bringing useful data and feedback back to Grove. Each session teaches you something new, and I will take every bit of learning I can from this to help keep pushing my development and the team forward.”
The team's Sporting Director Sven Smeets added: “Luke continues to prove himself as a valuable part of the team, both through his simulator work and his performances on track. Giving him the chance to get behind the wheel of the FW48 across two race weekends is an important step in his development and a natural progression.
"It’s valuable for us to have consistency in the driver across all four of our rookie test sessions, as it allows us to improve the correlation between the data we gather on track and our simulator work. We have a talented group of young drivers in the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy, and we’re pleased to continue providing opportunities like this to support their progression and development.”
Browning joins fellow GB3 alumni Freddie Slater in participating in the next two FP1 sessions.