French driver Victor Martins, currently racing in Formula 2, is set to hit the track in Formula 1 for the first time: he’ll make his debut during FP1 with Williams
Victor Martins is ready to make his official debut in a Formula 1 weekend. The young French talent, currently competing in the Formula 2 Championship with ART Grand Prix, will take part in the first Free Practice session of the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, driving the Williams FW47 in place of Thailand’s Alex Albon.
Who is Victor Martins: His Career Path
The 23-year-old has stood out in the opening rounds of the 2025 F2 season, securing pole position in Melbourne and a podium finish in the Saudi Arabian Feature Race. His development has been steady: after being named best rookie in 2023, he went on to claim five podiums in 2024, including a victory at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya — a track where he has shown strong form.
Martins’ career took off in Formula 3, where he won the championship in 2022 after a closely fought season, sealing the title with a victory in the final race at Monza. This track record, along with strong recent performances — including P2 in qualifying in Monaco — has solidified his place within the Williams Racing Driver Academy, a program designed to support young drivers on their journey to Formula 1.
Ahead of his FP1 debut, Martins has undergone an intense preparation phase, which included participating in the TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) programme at Monza, where he drove the FW45 alongside Luke Browning. In addition to time on track, he has spent many hours in the simulator at Grove to get familiar with the car and the team’s operations.
“We’re proud to see Victor take this important step,” said Sporting Director Sven Smeets. “He has proven his talent and worked hard to get to this point. We’re excited to see him in action on track in Barcelona.”
Photo: Williams Racing