Browning Set to Drive for Williams in Bahrain Opening Practice Session

By Balazs Szabo on 09 Apr 2025, 17:00

Alright, so here we go — Williams has just dropped this news, kinda like a mic drop moment (well, sorta). Luke Browning, this promising young gun, is hopping into the car for the first practice session at Bahrain’s Grand Prix this weekend. It’s actually part of this whole deal where they gotta give rookies some track time. Sounds fun, right?

So, Browning — he’s in his rookie season slugging it out in Formula 2 with this team called Hitech GP. Dude’s been making waves already. You know, he even managed to get onto the podium during the Sprint Race in Australia. Not sure if it’s beginner’s luck or he’s just that good. Maybe both?

Oh, and, flashback to last year in Baku. Browning made his debut there, right outta FIA Formula 3, sliding into Formula 2 for the last three rounds of 2024. Kid scored in two races — kinda a big deal, considering. Then, he poked his head into an F1 car for the first time during the Abu Dhabi GP’s first practice session. Bet that was a rush.

Anyway, prep for Bahrain’s already rolling. Browning was zooming around in Monza last weekend, part of the TPC program or Testing of Previous Cars. It’s all very official-sounding, isn’t it? He was tearing up the track in the FW45 — yeah, the names are wild — along with this new kid on the block, Victor Martins.

Browning’s voice kind of trembles with excitement, or maybe it’s just the engine revving — hard to tell. He said driving again for Williams is like hitting the “dream come true” jackpot. Each drive is upping his confidence. “Goal for FP1? Get cozy with all the F1 madness and build on that Abu Dhabi vibe. Oh, and that car evolution — FW46 to FW47 — can’t wait to feel that. Big thanks to James, Sven, and the Grove squad for trusting me with this beast. So much prep happened for this, seriously, big hats off to everyone in the Driver Academy.”

Now, about Williams choosing Browning for this gig — the sporting director, Sven Smeets, shared his two cents. He mentioned how Luke’s been killing it since his F2 debut last year. He bagged some solid points at the opening race in Australia, too. Sven lofts a bit more praise, highlighting Luke’s various experiences, like the previous FP1 gig, simulator work, and TPC stuff. All has them psyched to see him crank it up a notch this weekend. Exciting times ahead!