James Vowles: “We are proud to have him onboard” as Luke Browning steps up at Williams
James Vowles has praised Luke Browning as “one of our own” after Williams confirmed the academy driver as its reserve for the 2026 Formula 1 season
Williams has appointed Luke Browning as its reserve driver for the 2026 Formula 1 season. Following the news, team principal James Vowles confirmed to his followers on social media that he will be supporting the young driver as he takes on the responsibility.
Browning's promotion follows a strong performance through the academy since joining the Williams Driver Academy in 2023. With strong single-seater results earning him eligibility for a superlicence, he's already driven in several practice sessions in 2025.
This year, he's competing in Japan's Super Formula with Team Kondo Racing, meaning he'll miss four race weekends. But his third-place finish in Formula 3 and fourth-place finishes in Formula 2 across the last two seasons have given Vowles the confidence to bring him into the fold.
"Congratulations to Luke Browning on securing a seat as our Reserve Driver for the 2026 season. Luke is one of our own and his development over the past 18 months has been there for everybody to see. He is an incredible talent, and we are proud to have him onboard.
"He will also take the step into Japanese Super Formula this coming season, racing at numerous circuits in Japan with Team Kondo Racing. I’m really excited to follow his progress across the year and support him every step of the way as he embarks on the next chapter in his career."
With the 23-year-old confirmed for 20 races this season, Williams is yet to confirm who will cover the remaining four.
Williams Driver Academy
Photo by: Williams
Williams Driver Academy
Photo by: Williams
“I’m incredibly excited to be stepping up as Reserve Driver with Atlassian Williams F1 Team this year," Browning said. "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.”
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