Luke Browning will return to Formula 1 action with Williams at the Italian Grand Prix, taking over Alex Albon’s FW48 for FP1 at Monza.The Williams reserve driver will make his second practice appearance of the 2026 season and his sixth FP1 outing for the team overall. His participation will also complete Williams’ second mandatory rookie practice session of the year.
Browning previously drove the FW48 in Austria, gaining his first full FP1 experience with Formula 1’s new-generation machinery under the 2026 technical regulations. The 24-year-old will now tackle one of F1’s fastest circuits as Williams uses the session to gather further data while continuing Browning’s development programme.
Browning believes another opportunity in the FW48 will strengthen both his own understanding and the work he carries out away from race weekends: “I’m thrilled to have another chance to drive an FP1 session with Atlassian Williams F1 Team. 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.”
Williams sees Browning’s track running as directly connected to his simulator responsibilities at Grove, where experience of the current car can improve the quality and relevance of his feedback.
That element has become increasingly important following the introduction of the new technical regulations, with reserve drivers required to understand rapidly evolving cars while supporting race drivers and engineers throughout the season.
Browning’s sixth FP1 appearance for Williams
Browning’s latest appearance forms part of Williams’ long-standing programme of giving academy drivers meaningful Formula 1 opportunities rather than restricting their development to simulator work. His Monza outing will fulfil Williams’ second mandated rookie FP1 session, but it also gives the team another chance to assess his progress in contemporary machinery.
The Briton combines his Williams reserve role with racing for Team Kondo Racing in Japan’s Super Formula championship, adding experience in another high-downforce single-seater category. That programme has given Browning regular competitive mileage while keeping him closely connected to Williams through simulator work and race-weekend duties.
His sixth FP1 appearance also underlines how consistently Williams has incorporated him into its F1 programme as he continues working towards a potential full-time opportunity. With Albon stepping aside for the opening session, the team will need Browning to execute its programme cleanly and provide useful feedback before the regular race driver returns for FP2.
For Browning, it represents another important opportunity to demonstrate that he can adapt quickly, communicate effectively and contribute immediately inside an F1 race weekend. For Williams, Monza is another chance to turn its mandatory rookie running into something more valuable than simply satisfying the regulations.