Williams junior ready for next step: 'Then I get that chance'

Browning has been part of the Williams Driver Academy since April 2023, working closely with their F1 team. At the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP, the Briton could already drive the FW46 in the FP1 session. During a media session also attended by GPblog, Browning was asked if he has received any assurance from the team about his future in the series above F2. 

"In Williams the way it works is: you do well and then you’ll get the opportunity and it’ll come. So, I’m confident that if I perform I’ll have the opportunities to show myself and I’m looking forward to it."

Busy calendar

The 23-year-old driver has multiple roles as Williams' development driver next season with a seat in Formula 2 at Hitech. Due to his double duties, his calendar is already full. "I think it's difficult, of course. You have a lot to do, flying to a lot of places. We only do 14 [races], so imagine what it's like for the drivers who do 24. Plus they have a lot more media commitments. It's obviously a step up."

"I think obviously it’s difficult. You’ve got a lot on, you fly a lot of places. We’re only doing 14, so imagine the drivers that are doing in 24 - plus they have way more media commitments. I think obviously it’s just stepping up. I think the right time for me to be able to step up, take on responsibility and to be able to experience and witness what’s going on during an F1 weekend as well as being able to fully focus on what’s going on in Formula 2."

The Briton stressed that his dream of reaching Formula 1 has not changed. "The goal is still the same, and I’m taking on the processes that Williams are teaching me in how to manage my time to be able to fit everything in."

Two clear targets for the 2025 F2 season

Browning explained that experience in Formula 2 is the most important factor, and that in that area he is obviously hugely behind the guys who have already driven several seasons in the competition. According to him, it is very difficult to make up for that experience as a rookie.

"I think that’s what was so outstanding about, for example, Bortoleto’s season last year - is the progression. And I thinks that’s the plan for me and Dino [Beganovic] - to not necessarily turn up and be the outright fastest straight away, that is that not necessarily the goal. But it’s looking at how much we can develop throughout the year," he explained.

He also stressed that Formula 2 is the perfect feeder series to develop drivers. "Which is I think why now going into looking at last year, we have five more rookies in Formula 1, came straight out of Formula 2. And to directly answer the question, where do we want to be in championship? We want to win both titles. And I think that’s clear from our performance last year and from having a driver line-up as strong as me and Dino. I think we’re one of the strongest on the grid," the Williams junior concluded.

This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sárközi

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