An In-Depth Look at the Williams Racing Driver Academy in 2025

Every aspiring single-seater driver dreams of making it to the pinnacle of motorsport: Formula 1. While many drivers pursue this dream independently, those affiliated with driver academies often have an edge. This article delves into the performances of drivers from the Williams Racing Driver Academy during the 2025 season, providing insights into their journeys and achievements.

Transition of Franco Colapinto

Franco Colapinto, a notable member of the Williams Racing Driver Academy, made his Formula 1 debut at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix. After this remarkable entry, he transitioned away from Williams to race for Alpine in 2025. This shift marked a significant change for Williams, as it was the first season since 2019 that the team did not feature a driver from their academy in their racing lineup.

In 2024, Colapinto, along with fellow driver Zak O’Sullivan, exited the academy, prompting Williams to bolster their ranks by signing two new drivers, Victor Martins and Will Green, to restore their academy membership to nine.

Luke Browning’s Impressive Performance in F2

Luke Browning had an exceptional 2024 season in Formula 3, where he secured a third-place finish overall. In 2025, he stepped up to Formula 2, joining ART Grand Prix for the last three races of the previous season. For the full 2025 season, Browning returned to Hitech, the team he had raced with since 2022.

From the very beginning of the season, Browning exhibited outstanding form, consistently placing among the top competitors in the championship standings. He finished third in the opening race in Australia and achieved a remarkable eight podium finishes throughout the season. By the Monaco Grand Prix, Browning was leading the drivers’ championship.

His crowning achievement came during the feature race at Monza, where he secured his first F2 victory. This win positioned him second in the overall standings. However, following this high point, Browning’s performance waned, as he only managed to score nine points in the next three rounds, ultimately finishing the season in fourth place with a total of 162 points.

In addition to his F2 commitments, the 23-year-old participated in three practice sessions with Williams in Formula 1 and took part in the post-season Young Driver Test, as well as testing for Super Formula at Suzuka. As for his plans for 2026, they remain uncertain.

Victor Martins: A New Chapter

Victor Martins began the 2025 season without an affiliation to any team, racing in ART colors at the opening round in Melbourne. However, shortly after, on March 31, it was announced that he had joined the Williams Racing Driver Academy.

Martins, the 2022 F3 champion, secured three podium finishes throughout the season, including a notable victory in the feature race at Lusail. However, his season was marked by a mix of strong performances and unfortunate incidents. For instance, he experienced a stall from third position at the start of the feature race in Imola and collided with polesitter Alex Dunne during the opening lap in Monaco.

One of the standout aspects of Martins’ 2025 season was his impressive qualifying performance. He consistently qualified in the top two in seven out of fourteen rounds. Ultimately, Martins concluded his third F2 season in 11th place, accumulating 97 points and demonstrating his potential by outperforming his teammate, Ritomo Miyata.

After joining Williams, Martins made his debut in an F1 practice session at the Spanish Grand Prix. Recently, he also tested with HMD Motorsports in Indy NXT, exploring his options for the 2026 season. Additionally, he achieved success outside of single-seaters, winning the Race of Champions Nations’ Cup alongside the legendary Sébastien Loeb. While his plans for 2026 remain uncertain, he confirmed he would not be returning to F2.

Alessandro Giusti’s Progression in F3

Alessandro Giusti, the 2022 French F4 champion, joined the Williams academy at the beginning of 2024 after finishing sixth in the Euro Championship. He continued in the series for 2024, finishing fourth before moving up to Formula 3 for the 2025 season with MP Motorsport.

Giusti’s season began at the Albert Park circuit, where he initially struggled to score points but quickly turned the tide with a seventh-place finish in the sprint race in Bahrain. This result initiated a remarkable nine-race streak of scoring points, reminiscent of his consistent performances in French F4. His first podium in F3 came in a feature race in Barcelona, where he finished third.

The 19-year-old later achieved his best result of the season with a second-place finish in Austria, but he faced challenges in the latter half of the season, scoring only 13 points in the final four rounds compared to 54 in the first six. Giusti concluded the season in 10th place overall.

In July, he made a noteworthy appearance in the Formula E rookie test in Berlin with Lola Yamaha ABT. Giusti will remain with MP Motorsport for the 2026 F3 season, continuing to build on his development in the sport.

Lia Block’s Journey in F1 Academy and Beyond

Lia Block made her single-seater debut in 2024 when she was signed by Williams to compete in the F1 Academy. That year, she also participated in various other competitions, including the Formula Winter Series and both the Spanish and Italian F4 series part-time. For 2025, Williams and ART Grand Prix retained Block for the F1 Academy.

She began the season with two ninth-place finishes in Shanghai but only managed to score points in two of the next six races. However, the second half of her year saw significant improvements. In Zandvoort, Block achieved her first podium in single-seater racing and followed this with a victory in the first race in Singapore. She finished the season in ninth place overall, just one position lower than her 2024 ranking.

Aside from her single-seater endeavors, Block also made a successful foray into rallying, winning the Boone Forest Rally in Kentucky in the ARA East classification. In November, Williams announced that Block would part ways with the academy, opting to return to full-time rallying in 2026.

Oleksandr Bondarev’s Rising Star

Oleksandr Bondarev was recognized as a major talent during his karting career, leading to his recruitment by the Williams academy at the end of 2023. In 2024, he transitioned to single-seaters, competing in Italian F4 with Prema Racing.

For the 2025 season, Bondarev began in F4 Middle East, finishing 12th overall, before returning to Italian F4 as his primary campaign. His early rounds were challenging, with only four points finishes. However, he broke through with a spectacular victory in race three at Imola, making him only the second Ukrainian driver to win an FIA-certified F4 race. He added another podium in Italian F4 and concluded the season in 10th place.

In addition to his Italian F4 campaign, Bondarev also participated in the E4 Championship, where he won the rookie title and finished ninth overall. He capped off the season by competing in the Formula Trophy, where he achieved a remarkable feat by winning both races from pole position during the event supporting the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Bondarev is set to continue his development with Prema Racing in both Italian F4 and E4 in 2026.

Dean Hoogendoorn’s Promising Karting Career

Dean Hoogendoorn was signed by Williams to their junior team in August 2024 after showcasing impressive results in OK-Junior karting. He continued to excel in karting, claiming victory in the WSK Final Cup in December of that year.

In 2025, the 13-year-old remained in the OK-Junior category, where he was one of the standout drivers. In March, he won the overall classification of the WSK Super Master Series, achieving victories in two of five rounds. He also competed in the FIA Karting European Championship, where he won the overall title, securing victories in Portimão and earning two additional podiums. Hoogendoorn finished fifth in the Champions of the Future Euro Series and concluded the year with a third-place finish in the FIA World Karting Championship.

The young talent also made strides in his development, completing his first F4 tests in December. He tested with AKM Motorsport and Campos Racing, and he is expected to move up to the senior karting class for 2026.

Sara Matsui’s Karting Journey

Japanese driver Sara Matsui joined the Williams academy in 2024, transitioning from junior to senior karting and spending her first full year outside of Japan. In 2025, she focused solely on senior karting, participating in various competitions under the FIA, WSK, and Champions of the Future banners.

Matsui had her best results in the Champions of the Future Academy Programme, finishing ninth overall. She achieved her only podium of the season with a third-place finish in the J1 class final during the Al Forsan round. In addition to COTFA, the 15-year-old also participated in several other championships, including the Champions of the Future Euro Series and the FIA Karting European Championship, but did not score points in those series.

Matsui continued to represent her country, racing in the OK class in Japan. While her plans for 2026 are still under wraps, she is expected to remain in karting.

Lucas Palacio’s Success in Karting

Lucas Palacio was signed to the Williams