INTERVIEW: Life as an F1 reserve driver with Williams’ Luke Browning

Browning joined Williams in 2023, aged 21, following a promising junior career that included titles in British Formula 4 and GB3, a Silverstone lap record and the British Racing Drivers’ Club 2022 Young Driver of the Year award. Progression to Formula 3 then Formula 2 swiftly followed, and by 2024 he was juggling racing while serving as Williams’ Formula 1 test driver.  

It’s Team Principal James Vowles whom Browning credits with bringing him to Williams, and the driver took a leaf out of George Russell’s book when it came to getting his shot.

“James picked me up back in 2022 when I was a simulator driver for Mercedes,” Browning explained. “At the time I was quite quick on the simulator, I remember cheekily ringing him up saying ‘Hey James, I think I've just beaten George Russell's lap time in the simulator. Will you give me a role in the junior programme?’ He laughed at me. Obviously I'd done about 1,000 laps; George had probably done two.”

At the time the Mercedes programme was full, but Vowles promised to be in touch if an opportunity arose. Weeks later, he was announced as Williams Team Principal. “Then he gave me a call. I was his first signing in the junior programme.”

After two years as test driver, Browning was promoted to be Williams’ reserve driver in January 2026. The role involves him spending a large amount of his time at the team’s factory, setting laps in the simulator and helping with the car set-up.

During race weekends he’ll be in the engineering office, watching the onboards of Carlos Sainz Jr. and Alex Albon compared to their competitors and offering feedback from a driver’s perspective. Of course, he’ll also be called on to race himself, if either Sainz or Albon are rendered unable.

“I train like one of the drivers,” Browning shared of his approach. “I'm as well prepared as they are, and I think hopefully that showed in my FP1 in Austria.”

Two weeks before the Festival of Speed, the Austrian Grand Prix gave Browning his chance at the wheel of the Williams FW48 in Friday’s first practice session, where he completed 29 laps of the Red Bull Ring.

It was an opportunity he particularly relished, after an initial chance to test the car at the Spanish Grand Prix earlier in June was hindered by an electrical issue that kept him in the garage. “I was a little bit gutted in Barcelona not to get out, but I think it only made me more prepared [in Austria],” he reflected.

Browning was certainly prepared to make his Festival of Speed debut, though the FW08C, Keke Rosberg’s 1983 Monaco Grand Prix winner, was a little different to what he’s used to.

“To drive up the Hill, especially in the FW08C, I’ve experienced what it's like going flat out in an old Formula 1 car, first, second, third [gear]. It's been really good fun, a little bit different to the modern cars.”

The 24-year-old also revealed he’s a Festival of Speed regular — “I come here every year as a spectator, I'm super into my road cars” — and that familiarity made his trips up the Hill that bit more special.

“I've watched it so many times, on TV, and then to actually do it myself was pretty surreal.”

Having delighted in his time at Goodwood, including meeting his childhood hero, Lightning McQueen, Browning now returns to his busy schedule, balancing responsibilities with Williams with his campaign in Japan’s Super Formula with Team Kondo Racing. While his main priority is F1, Browning views the competition as a “great learning experience,” offering valuable time behind the wheel.

“The cars are super quick and I'm managing to pick up lots of things that can help me towards Formula 1 — the speed of the car helps with my neck strength and just keeping race ready when the lights go out rather than waiting on the sidelines for a year.”

Keeping ready is Browning’s main objective, whatever may come his way. Naturally he dreams of becoming Formula 1 World Champion, but he’s not getting carried away. With Williams currently ninth in the Constructors’ Championship there’s still a lot of work to do.

“These things take time, and I want to nurture my talent with [Williams], and I also just want to bring the team up to the top. So, however long that takes, it's gonna be exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing where we go in the future. At one point I'd love to be driving for them, but I'm only one step away.

“The goal is to make me ready for Formula 1. And I'm ready, so let's see.”

The 2027 Festival of Speed will take place on 15th-18th July 2027, sign up for ticket alerts to make sure you don't miss out. Tickets are available for GRRC Members and Fellows, you can join the Fellowship today.

Main image courtesy of Getty Images.

Goodwood photography by Tom Baigent, Jayson Fong and Charlie Brenninmeijer.