Event Luke Browning: Williams reserve driver on his delayed F1 2026 debut and life in Japan by Josh Suttill 6min read What connects past and present Formula 1 drivers like Michael and Ralf Schumacher, Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson, Eddie Irvine and Stoffel Vandoorne? Sign up for a newsletter and we'll make sure you're fully up-to-date in the world of race technology They all headed to Japan to race in Super Formula (or Japan Formula 3000/Formula Nippon as it used to be known), a path Williams F1 reserve driver Luke Browning is now following. Browning was leading the primary F1 feeder series, Formula 2, in mid-2025 when he and Williams were deciding his 2026 programme. Graduating to an F1 race seat in 2026 wasn’t an option, and F2 champions are barred from re-entering the championship for the following year. Browning was in contention throughout 2025 - which meant it was risky to plan a return for him in 2026 - although he ended up finishing fourth overall. Many reserve drivers end up with a programme of supporting an F1 team in the simulator, Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) running and some first practice runs with no actual race programme - but Williams team principal James Vowles was keen for Browning to stay race fit. “I think it was the right decision for us to continue racing,” Browning told Raceteq in an exclusive interview. Browning races for Kondo Racing in a Toyota-powered Super Formula car in 2026 “At the end of the day, we're racing drivers, and if you don't get the pressure of the lights going out every couple of months, I think you might lose that under-pressure feel, which I absolutely am drawn to.” He said it was important “not to have any cobwebs on my racecraft”. From F2 to