Victor Martins at the wheel of the Williams for a test at Imola

"Thanks for the birthday present guys.", legend Victor Martins in story Instagram, posing proudly in front of the Williams from 2023. The Frenchman celebrated his 24th birthday yesterday and will be on track this Tuesday at Imola as part of a TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) driving the FW45.

@victormartinsfr – Instagram

After committing to a third season of Formula 2 without the support of the young pilot academyAlpineVictor Martins joined the Williams Racing Driver Academy last March. He was then able to try out the FW45 at Monza the weekend of his announcement.

The champion of Formula 3 2022 then took part in an official session of Formula 1 by participating in Free Practice 1 of the Barcelona GP in Alex's car Albon, a little over two weeks ago. He thus finished 19^th just under six tenths behind the other FW47 on the track, but was eight thousandths ahead of theAlpine by the Argentinian Franco Colapinto.

"I learned about it quite late, by telephone, because I wasn't at the factory (in Grove, Editor's note) at this moment, he had declared to AUTOHebdo. I had already done my bucket in the car, so I suspected it would happen soon. I was doing everything to be ready, to feel good on the big day.

Competition will be tough to get into Formula 1 with Williams

The Frenchman's ART now sports Williams blue in Formula 2, just like Luke Browning's Hitech since the start of the season. The Briton participated in two test sessions with Williams, in Abu Dhabi in 2024 and Bahrain in 2025, as well as the post-season rookie tests at the end of 2024.

On the schedule for these days of testing with Williams, Victor Martins will be on track this Tuesday before handing over the wheel to Luke Browning on Wednesday. The two drivers are seventh and fifth respectively in F2, each with their eyes fixed on an opportunity to move up to Formula 1 within the Grove team.

As a reminder, Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz are both currently under contract with Williams until the end of the 2026 season. Given that eleven of the twenty drivers on the grid are in the same situation (not counting the two additional seats at Cadillac), once the new regulations are introduced next year, the Frenchman may have his chance in a game of musical chairs.

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