Victor Martins to make F1 follow debut with Williams at Spanish GP

Williams junior Victor Martins will drive in an official System 1 follow session for the primary time on Friday on the Spanish Grand Prix.

Martins will take the wheel of Alexander Albon’s FW47 automotive, benefitting from the rule stating that every entry should be pushed by a rookie at the least twice over the season – totalling 4 FP1 outings per staff.

One other Williams protege, Luke Browning, was in motion on Friday on the Bahrain GP – with each children having examined FW45 equipment from the 2023 marketing campaign in Monza early final month.

“I’m tremendous pleased to be taking the wheel of the FW47 for the primary time in Barcelona!” Martins commented. “It will likely be an unimaginable expertise to drive for the staff.

“I’m working onerous to organize as a lot as doable to maximise my time within the automotive and make it a priceless session for myself and the staff.”

Alexander Albon, Williams

Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Photographs by way of Getty Photographs

Sporting director Sven Smeets added: “We’re proud that Victor will likely be participating in his first System 1 session with Williams Racing in Barcelona. He continues to exhibit that he’s a gifted driver, and this session is a vital step ahead in his profession as a part of the Academy.

“His participation in our TPC [Testing of Previous Cars] programme and simulator work in Grove have ready him nicely and we stay up for seeing him within the storage this weekend.”

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Martins formally joined the Williams fold on 31 March after two stints within the Alpine Academy, having gained System Renault Eurocup and System 3 titles previously.

The 23-year-old Frenchman is contesting his third System 2 season with ART Grand Prix, however has largely did not convert his tempo into outcomes, that means he sits simply eighth within the standings – 37 factors down on chief Browning.

The Melbourne function race was cancelled when Martins was attributable to begin from pole place, and he was taken out of the primary Monaco contest as he was finishing an overtake for the lead, which triggered a monumental pile-up final Sunday.

Victor Martins, ART Grand Prix