Browning to drive for Williams in FP1 at the Italian Grand Prix

Williams have announced that reserve driver Luke Browning will take part in FP1 at the Italian Grand Prix, stepping in for Alex Albon.

The Briton joined the Williams Driver Academy in 2023 and has made multiple appearances for the team as part of their mandated rookie running, beginning with FP1 at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Since then, he has driven in a further four practice sessions and was promoted to the role of reserve driver at the start of 2026, balancing his team duties with a campaign in Japan's Super Formula.

Browning was initially scheduled to get behind the wheel of the FW48 in both Barcelona and Austria this season, and while an electrical issue forced him to sit out of the former, he placed P18 in FP1 at the Red Bull Ring with a deficit of three-tenths to Albon.

Under F1’s regulations, every full-time driver is required to step aside for a rookie – defined as someone who has started no more than two Grands Prix – in two practice sessions across the season.

"I'm thrilled to have another chance to drive an FP1 session with Atlassian Williams F1 Team,” said Browning. “It’s a great opportunity to get invaluable laps in the FW48 while building my understanding of the car and helping to bring useful data and feedback back to Grove.

“Each session teaches you something new, and I want to take every bit of learning I can from this to keep pushing my development and the team forward. For this weekend, it's about supporting Williams to help maximise the result here in Monza."

The 24-year-old has completed important work on the simulator in what has been a tough year for Williams, with late development and a distinct lack of pace causing them to linger towards the back of the field.

He will have the opportunity to feed into the team’s progress behind the scenes when FP1 in Monza gets underway at 1230 local time on September 4.