Williams have confirmed that Luke Browning will replace Alex Albon in the FW48 for the first free practice session at the Italian Grand Prix. The 24-year-old’s outing in Monza marks his second appearance in the new regulation cars and his sixth overall with Williams.
Browning’s previous F1 outings
Browning previously took part in FP1 at the Austrian Grand Prix, where he drove Carlos Sainz’s car. He is a member of the Williams driver academy and also serves as their reserve driver.
The decision comes as Williams look to complete a second mandatory rookie session of the season. All teams are required to run a rookie driver for a total of four FP1 sessions across the year, with race drivers required to miss two sessions each.
Verstappen to face 100 go-karters
Max Verstappen will return to his karting roots at Silverstone next month. On September 16, the Red Bull driver will take part in ‘Max vs 100’, a one-off event in which he will race against 100 go-karters.
Starting from the back of the grid, Verstappen will need to overtake every competitor before a timer runs out. Asked what he was most looking forward to, he said: “Just seeing the carnage unfold in front of me.”
“In go-karts you learn all the basics: starts, defending, overtaking,” Verstappen added. “Of course, I spent a long period of my life go-karting, so it's always nice to return. It’s about understanding the grip of the go-kart. I've done so many years in go-karting that you quite naturally get back into things.”
The field will bring together Red Bull athletes, celebrities, content creators and members of the public. The race is reported to be broadcast live on Disney+ and ESPN.
