Another young talent from the British team is set to make his debut in an official Formula 1 session. Luke Browning will take the wheel of the Williams FW46 during Free Practice 1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the closing round of this F1 season.
The British driver will also be among the rookies participating in the post-season rookie test following the Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit.
Williams thus fulfills the regulation requirement to allocate a second FP1 session to a young driver during the season. The first was Franco Colapinto at Silverstone, where he participated in FP1 for the British Grand Prix.
Now that the Argentine has become a full-time driver, the choice for the second slot has fallen on Browning. The British driver will take Alexander Albon’s place for the occasion.
“It’s an honor to drive an F1 car for the first time and for Williams in Abu Dhabi. Having the opportunity to participate not only in the rookie test but also in Free Practice is truly special. A huge thanks to everyone at Williams Racing for entrusting me with the FW46 and supporting my development as a member of the Academy. I will work hard to prepare and make the most of this opportunity,” Browning said after the announcement.
Who is Luke Browning: His Career So Far
Born in 2002, Luke Browning began his single-seater career in 2019 in British F4, a category he won the following year. After competing in the ADAC F4 championship in 2021, finishing third overall, Browning moved to the GB3 Championship in 2022, where he claimed the title in his rookie season with Hitech.
The year 2023 marked a pivotal step in his career. Partnering with Hitech, Browning debuted in Formula 3. In his first season, the British driver secured one podium finish and five points-scoring results, including four in the first three rounds of the season. His progress throughout the year culminated in a dominant performance at the Macau Grand Prix: pole position in qualifying and victories in both the qualifying and main races.
Beyond his achievements in junior categories, Browning also debuted in Formula E, participating in rookie tests with McLaren. Additionally, after winning the Autosport BRDC Award, he got his first taste of an F1 car by testing the Aston Martin AMR21.
This year, Luke Browning was a title contender in Formula 3, staying in the fight until the final rounds. He finished the season in third place overall, with two victories, one additional podium, and five other top-six finishes. Following Zak O’Sullivan’s departure, Browning made his Formula 2 debut this year in Baku with the ART team, scoring points immediately with a seventh-place finish in the Feature Race.
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