System 2 race winner Victor Martins will drive for Williams on this Friday’s opening follow session for the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.
The Frenchman will take over Alex Albon’s FW47 for the one-hour session in Barcelona.
The outing will mark the primary grand prix look for Martins, who joined the Williams Racing Academy initially of April after splitting together with his earlier backer Alpine on the finish of the 2024 season.
Williams hand probability to newcomer at F1 Spanish Grand Prix
He had already gained expertise in Williams’ System 1 equipment as a part of a TPC (testing of earlier vehicles) run at Monza final month together with fellow academy driver Luke Browning.
“I’m tremendous pleased to be taking the wheel of the FW47 for the primary time in Barcelona,” Victor shared following the announcement.
“It is going to be an unbelievable expertise to drive for the group. I’m working laborious to organize as a lot as potential to maximise my time within the automotive and make it a priceless session for myself and the group.
“I’m massively grateful to everybody at Atlassian Williams Racing for giving me this chance and I’m trying ahead to having fun with each second of it!”
Martins is contesting his third season in F2 with ART this yr and sits eighth within the standings after a pole place in Melbourne and a podium in Jeddah. The drivers’ championship is led by Browning.
Martin’s earlier successes in junior racing embrace titles in System 3 and Renault Eurocup.
By giving seat time to the 23-year-old to Barcelona, Williams can be fulfilling the second of its 4 mandated rookie FP1 rookie classes. Earlier in Bahrain, Browning drove Carlos Sainz’s automotive in follow.
“We’re proud that Victor can be collaborating in his first System 1 session with Atlassian Williams Racing in Barcelona,” mentioned Williams sporting director Sven Smeets.
“He continues to exhibit that he’s a proficient driver, and this session is a crucial step ahead in his profession as a part of the Academy.
“His participation in our TPC programme and simulator work in Grove have ready him nicely and we stay up for seeing him within the storage this weekend.”