F2 racer Victor Martins will get his first chance with Williams in FP1 in F1 Spanish GP as part of rookie rule, as Alpine and Sauber sport special livery.
Atlassian Williams Racing is pleased to announce that Williams Racing Academy Driver Victor Martins will take part in the first Free Practice session at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix this weekend in Barcelona, driving Alex Albon’s FW47. This FP1 session fulfils the team’s second of four mandated driver sessions this year and marks Victor’s debut drive in a Formula 1 weekend.
Victor is currently racing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with ART Grand Prix, bringing some stand-out results in 2025 including securing Pole Position in Melbourne and stepping on the podium in the Saudi Arabia Feature Race. This follows two prior strong seasons in Formula 2, being crowned top rookie in 2023 and achieving five podiums in 2024, including a victory in Barcelona.
The Frenchman previously impressed in Formula 3, where he won the closely-contested 2022 championship, securing victory at the finale in Monza. Across the season, he achieved two Feature Race wins and four further podiums. As part of his preparations for FP1 in Barcelona, Victor participated in the TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) programme in Monza earlier this year, driving the FW45 alongside fellow Williams Racing Academy driver Luke Browning.
Victor’s participation in the FP1 session is part of the Williams Racing Driver Academy’s proud tradition of giving young talent a path into F1, most recently demonstrated by Academy alumnus Franco Colapinto’s graduation into an F1 race seat. The Driver Academy supports drivers on every rung of the motorsport ladder, working with them on and off the track to develop the skills necessary to race at the top level.
Victor Martins: “I’m super happy to be taking the wheel of the FW47 for the first time in Barcelona! 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!”
Sven Smeets, Sporting Director, Atlassian Williams Racing: “We’re proud that Victor will be taking part in his first Formula 1 session with Atlassian Williams Racing in Barcelona. He continues to demonstrate that he is a talented driver, and this session is an important step forward in his career as part of the Academy. His participation in our TPC programme and simulator work in Grove have prepared him well and we look forward to seeing him in the garage this weekend.”
Alpine –
Founded in 1955 by Jean Rédélé in Dieppe, France, Alpine grew out of his passion for motoring and racing, and is still competing today at the top of motorsport in Formula One and the World Endurance Championship. As an automotive leader, last year, Alpine launched the A290 to great acclaim, winning the European Car of the Year award and on 27th May, the world premiere of its first sport fastback was unveiled at Dieppe and will be presented to the general public during the 70th anniversary weekend.
The anniversary is being celebrated by BWT Alpine Formula One Team at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix with an updated A525 livery sporting the special Alpine 70 years logo. Drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto will race in specially-designed, one-off overalls and gloves in white with red and blue stripes and featuring the A70 logo.
The A-arrow symbol proudly celebrates the brand’s 70 years: 1955-2025. The use of blue, white and red emphasises the origins of the French brand created by Jean Rédélé in Dieppe in 1955. The number 70 extends the A-arrow, signifying a brand rooted in its past but looking to the future. The red target in the centre of the wheel, another automotive symbol, represents the challenges the brand will take on over the next 70 years!
Sauber –
Along with Alpine, Sauber will have a special livery as well while retaining the base colours of Stake i.e green and black. The idea is to have the pixel form printed on the F1 car.
Here: https://x.com/stakef1team_ks/status/1927666494265061805
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[The story is as per press release]
