News Summary
- Williams has confirmed Victor Martins as its reserve driver for the 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
- Martins will cover for Luke Browning, who has commitments in Japan’s Super Formula championship.
- Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon remain Williams’ race drivers for the Las Vegas weekend.
Williams has confirmed that Victor Martins will serve as its reserve driver at the 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix, replacing Luke Browning in the role while the Briton fulfils his racing commitments in Japan. The Frenchman will join the team’s Formula 1 operation for the November 19–21 weekend, providing support as the championship enters its final three rounds.
The announcement, made on Friday, November 13, gives Martins another opportunity to work alongside Williams’ engineering and race operations personnel. It does not involve a change to the team’s race line-up, with Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon continuing in their regular seats.
Why Williams has called up Victor Martins
Williams’ decision is linked to Browning’s commitments in Super Formula, Japan’s leading single-seater championship.
The British driver is scheduled to compete in the final events of the Japanese season, creating a clash with the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Martins will therefore assume the reserve responsibilities normally assigned to Browning, ensuring Williams has an additional driver available if required.
The arrangement also gives the Frenchman further experience within a Formula 1 team environment, building on his existing relationship with Williams.
Although reserve duties do not guarantee any track time, they provide an opportunity to participate in race-weekend preparations, technical meetings and simulator-related work where applicable.
Who is Victor Martins?
Martins is a French racing driver who has competed in Formula 2 and previously won the FIA Formula 3 championship in 2022.
His junior career has included victories and podium finishes in international single-seater categories, establishing him as an experienced prospect within Williams’ development structure.
The 25-year-old has also accumulated experience working with the team’s Formula 1 personnel, making him a familiar option for the reserve role.
His appointment for Las Vegas should not be interpreted as a promotion to a permanent Formula 1 race seat. Williams has not announced any change to its regular driver pairing as part of the decision.
Williams prepares for difficult Las Vegas challenge
The announcement comes as Williams attempts to recover from a difficult run of results.
The British team has scored 12 points across the opening 20 Grands Prix, with Sainz contributing seven and Albon five.
Neither driver has scored in the latest five races, leaving Williams ninth in the constructors’ championship, five points ahead of Aston Martin.
The GRANDE PRÊMIO analysis of Williams’ declining results examines how the team’s points output has fallen during the season.
Las Vegas presents a different challenge from São Paulo, with long straights, heavy braking zones and relatively low track temperatures.
Tyre preparation could become particularly important, as Lando Norris warned after the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Williams will be looking to end its points drought while Martins supports the team in his temporary reserve capacity.
The Grand Prix takes place on Saturday evening, November 21, in Las Vegas, corresponding to Sunday, November 22, in the United Kingdom and several other international markets.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the 2026 Formula 1 championship and preparations for 2027.
