Williams has been forced to make an important driver change ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix.
Victor Martins steps into the role of reserve driver for the event at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, replacing Luke Browning, who is competing in the fourth round of the Super Formula Championship in Japan.
For the 24-year-old Frenchman, who has been working as a test and development driver for Williams this season, the short-term promotion ends a nearly year-long wait to be working trackside.
Confirming the switch, a Williams spokesperson said: “Victor joined the team as a member of the Atlassian Williams F1 Team Driver Academy in early 2025 before graduating into the role of Test & Development Driver in 2026.
“He has been working closely with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz from the factory, contributing to car development and setup refinement during race weekends.
“Victor now steps into a trackside role for the first time since driving in FP1 at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix with the team.”
