Former Formula 3 champion Victor Martins has found a new sporting home at Williams – after the split from Alpine, his goal remains unchanged: to compete in Formula 1
With Franco Colapinto, a great Formula 1 talent moved from Williams to Alpine at the beginning of the year. Another young driver, in the form of Victor Martins, is now going the opposite way – albeit with a short interruption: after the Frenchman recently left Alpine’s development program, he is now part of the Williams Academy.
Martins worked for Alpine’s junior team twice, from 2018 to 2019 and from 2021 to the end of the 2024 season, which did not go as planned in Formula 2: After finishing his first year in Formula 1’s second division as the best rookie, last season he only managed seventh place overall.
As a result, Alpine and Martins parted ways, with the latter explaining: “Let’s put it this way: my goals and their goals were no longer aligned.” Under the leadership of special adviser Flavio Briatore, Alpine recently expanded its pool of reserve drivers considerably, signing not only Colapinto, but also the Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa, the Estonian Paul Aron and, most recently, the Indian Kush Maini.
In the course of this development, Martins not only found himself falling down the internal hierarchy, but subsequently also no longer saw a future together. At the traditional Williams team, which has helped several talents to enter F1 in recent years with Lance Stroll, Nicholas Latifi, Jack Aitken, Logan Sargeant and Colapinto, the 23-year-old is apparently hoping for better development opportunities.
Martins: Formula 1 laps with Williams at Monza
His new role at the Grove-based team includes targeted training, which also involves driving in old Formula 1 cars: as early as next weekend, Martins will take his first laps in the FW45 from the 2023 season at Monza, alongside Luke Browning, another of Williams’ young drivers.
“We are delighted to welcome Victor to the Williams Racing Driver Academy,” explains Sven Smeets, Director of Motorsport, with the 2022 Formula 3 champion in mind: ‘He has proven time and again that he is a talented driver capable of winning championships. We will continue to support him on and off the racetrack and look forward to working with him in 2025.’
Martins himself adds: “It’s a new chapter for me, but my goal remains unchanged: I want to push myself to my limits – both as a person and as a racing driver – and make it into Formula 1.” The Frenchman is certain: “Williams is a team with a long tradition and an incredible history, and I am convinced that this is the best place to achieve my goals.”
But first up for him is the next Formula 2 season: “This year, I will be fully focused on winning the Formula 2 title with ART Grand Prix and making the most of the opportunities that the Driver Academy program offers me – on and off the track. I’m looking forward to working with the entire Williams team on this new chapter.”
Perhaps Colapinto will soon be followed by someone else – namely, as the next Williams driver to make his Formula One debut…
