FIA Formula 3 Champion Victor Martins joins Williams Racing Driver Academy

Atlassian Williams Racing is pleased to announce 2022 FIA Formula 3 Champion Victor Martins will be joining the Williams Racing Driver Academy, becoming the latest addition to our talented line-up.

Victor has an impressive racing record, having won the closely contested 2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship, securing victory at the finale in Monza. The season saw the Frenchman achieve two wins, six podiums and one fastest lap. Graduating to Formula 2 in 2023, Victor closed the season as top rookie and helped ART Grand Prix win the Teams’ Championship alongside teammate Théo Pourchaire. He continued in Formula 2 for 2024, stepping onto the podium five times across the season, including one victory in the Barcelona Sprint race.

Victor will remain with ART Grand Prix racing in Formula 2, joining existing Williams Racing Academy Driver Luke Browning who drives for Hitech GP in the series. Both drivers will be taking the wheel of the FW45 at as part of the TPC (Testing of Previous Cars)programme in Monza this weekend.

As an Academy driver, Victor is set to receive training and guidance to continue refining his skills on and off the racetrack. 

He joins an expanding roster of future stars that Williams is investing in through the Williams Racing Driver Academy and builds on this proud tradition of giving young talent a path into F1, most recently seeing Franco Colapinto graduate from the Academy to an F1 race seat in 2024. The Driver Academy aims to support drivers throughout every stage of the motorsport ladder, working with them to develop the necessary skills to race at the highest level.

Victor Martins: “I’m super happy to be joining the Williams Racing Driver Academy! This is a new chapter for me, but my goal remains the same – to push myself to the limit, both as a person and as a racing driver, and to make it to Formula 1. Williams is an iconic team with an incredible history, and I’m confident this is the best place to be to help me achieve my goals. This year, I’ll put all my focus into winning the Formula 2 Drivers’ Championship with ART Grand Prix and maximising this opportunity with the Driver Academy both on and off the track. I look forward to working with everyone at Williams as we embark on this new journey together.”

Sven Smeets, Sporting Director, Atlassian Williams Racing: “We’re thrilled to welcome Victor to the Williams Racing Driver Academy. He has repeatedly demonstrated that he is a talented driver who is capable of winning championships. We will continue to support Victor’s development on and off the track as part of the Academy and look forward to working with him in 2025.”