Formula 2 race winner Victor Martins is set to make his Formula 1 debut with Williams this Friday at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.
Martins will take Alex Albon’s FW47 during the first free practice session (FP1), marking a significant milestone in his racing career.
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In a statement released by Williams, Martins expressed his excitement.
“I’m super happy to be taking the wheel of the FW47 for the first time in Barcelona," Victor shared following the announcement.
"It will be an incredible experience to drive for the team. I’m working hard to prepare as much as possible to maximise my time in the car and make it a valuable session for myself and the team.
"I’m hugely grateful to everyone at Atlassian Williams Racing for giving me this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to enjoying every second of it!”
Martins' debut also allows Williams to meet the FIA’s requirement of running rookie drivers in at least two FP1 sessions per season. The team previously fulfilled its first rookie outing in Bahrain, where Luke Browning drove Carlos Sainz’s car in practice.
Who is Victor Martins?
Victor Martins, aged 23, is a French racer. He joined the Williams Racing Driver Academy after departing from the Alpine Academy in 2025.
Martins has previously won the 2020 Formula Renault Eurocup and the 2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship. He was also awarded the Anthoine Hubert Award as the top rookie in Formula 2 in 2024.
Racing Highlights
| Year | Highlights |
| 2020 | Won the Formula Renault Eurocup with ART Grand Prix |
| 2022 | Won the FIA Formula 3 Championship with ART Grand Prix |
| 2023 | Debuted in FIA Formula 2, won one race and achieved nine podiums |
| 2024 | Continued in F2, won the Barcelona Sprint Race and achieved five podiums. |