Williams promotes Victor Martins to reserve driver for Canadian GP

Williams has been forced to make a key driver change ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, promoting Victor Martins to the reserve driver role for the weekend. The 24-year-old Frenchman replaces Luke Browning, who is competing in the fourth round of the Super Formula Championship in Japan.

Why it matters:

This marks Martins' first trackside opportunity since driving in FP1 for Williams at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. As a Test & Development Driver in 2026, he has been contributing from the factory, working closely with race drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz on car development and setup refinement. His promotion underscores Williams' depth in its driver academy and ensures the team has a capable reserve on site at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

The Details:

• Victor Martins joined the Williams Driver Academy in early 2025 before graduating to the role of Test & Development Driver for 2026.
• He has been working from the factory with Albon and Sainz, helping to refine the car's setup during race weekends.
• This weekend marks his first trackside role since the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, where he drove in FP1.
• Luke Browning is unavailable as he races in Super Formula for Team Mugen in Japan.
• With the Canadian Grand Prix known for its challenging circuit and potential for incidents, having an experienced reserve driver like Martins is a strategic asset for Williams.
• A Williams spokesperson confirmed the switch, stating: "Victor has been working closely with Alex and Carlos from the factory, contributing to car development and setup refinement. He now steps into a trackside role for the first time since driving in FP1 at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix."

What's next:

Martins will be on standby throughout the Canadian GP weekend, ready to step into the FW47 if either Albon or Sainz is unable to drive. The change is temporary, with Browning expected to return for future rounds. This opportunity could further strengthen Martins' standing within the team as Williams continues to develop its young driver pipeline.