Williams junior Victor Martins will participate in an official Formula 1 practice session for the first time at the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix driving Alexander Albon’s FW47 car, in accordance with the rule requiring each team to have a rookie driver for at least two FP1 outings per season.
Martins, alongside fellow Williams protege Luke Browning, previously tested FW45 machinery for the 2023 season in Monza and expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity to drive for the team, aiming to make the session valuable for himself and the team.
Sporting director Sven Smeets praised Martins as a talented driver and highlighted the importance of this Formula 1 session in Barcelona as a significant step forward in his career within the Williams Racing Academy.
Martins recently joined Williams after successful stints in the Alpine Academy, boasting Formula Renault Eurocup and Formula 3 titles in the past, and is currently competing in his third Formula 2 season with ART Grand Prix, albeit facing challenges in translating his pace into results.
Noteworthy incidents in Martins’ recent races include the Melbourne feature race cancellation while starting from pole position and a crash during the Monaco contest when attempting an overtake for the lead, which triggered a major pile-up.
