Former British F4 Championship title winner and Junior Saloon Car Championship competitor Luke Browning has been announced as the official 2026 Formula 1 Reserve Driver for the Atlassian Williams F1 Team.

The 23-year-old will play a pivotal role in helping the team with its bid to return to the front of the grid as Formula 1 enters an all-new era of regulations.

In addition to being on weekend stand-by duties, Browning will also continue to help develop the car over the course of the year through data analysis and simulator work.

Browning’s fledgling car racing career began with the British Automobile Racing Club back in 2016, when he stepped up to the ultra-competitive Junior Saloon Car Championship. In his rookie campaign, the British racer claimed a maiden victory before then being voted the Henry Surtees Teen Racer of the Year for 2016.

Further success would follow for Browning in the Ginetta Junior Championship before he made the switch to single-seaters in 2019. A stellar maiden campaign in the British F4 Championship certified by FIA was quickly followed up by title success a year later as he came out on top of a tense showdown at Brands Hatch.

From that point on, the Kingsley-born ace hasn’t looked back since; winning the coveted BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award as well as competing in FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3. He has also made a number of practice session appearances in Formula 1.

“I’m incredibly excited to be stepping up as Reserve Driver with Atlassian Williams F1 Team this year,” said Browning on his graduation to Reserve Driver having been a long-standing member of the Williams Academy.

“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.”