Williams forced to sideline unlucky Albon once again

Rules state that every Formula 1 driver must give up their seat twice per season for a first free practice session to a driver who has started a maximum of two GPs. In this way, Formula 1 and the teams aim to give (often) young drivers the chance to drive the fastest cars in the world. This rule was introduced a few years ago because unlimited testing is no longer allowed.

Williams sidelined Albon for the first session in Barcelona so that test and reserve driver Luke Browning could drive the car under the rookie requirement. However, technical issues meant that Browning was unable to complete a single lap in the car.

It is precisely this that means Williams has not fulfilled the rule. The regulations state that the rookie test only counts once the driver has left the pit lane.

Had Browning driven the car onto the track and parked it in the first corner, one rookie session would have been ticked off for Williams. Since that did not happen, the British team will now have to find a new opportunity to let a rookie drive Albon’s car. As a result, he will miss not two, but three first free practice sessions this season.

It is not yet known during which Grand Prix weekends Albon will be sidelined. In any case, Williams must still give a youngster the chance three more times, after Browning temporarily replaced Carlos Sainz last weekend at the Red Bull Ring. That ticks off one session.

It may be a challenge to find the right moments for a free practice session. After all, it is uncertain whether Abu Dhabi will remain on the F1 calendar due to the war in the Middle East. Traditionally, this is a frequently used race for fielding rookies.

Rookies also generally do not take part on street circuits and on weekends with a sprint race (and thus only one free practice session).

As far as GPblog is aware, Williams plans to have Browning complete all four of the required sessions. There is always the fallback option of running two rookie drivers in the same weekend to meet the obligations.

Williams will debut a special British Grand Prix livery at Silverstone, with team principal James Vowles emphasising the circuit’s place in the team’s history and the boost from home support.

The team arrives after a tough Austria weekend, where Carlos Sainz retired and Alexander Albon finished 17th following a double Q1 exit.

Despite early-season struggles, Albon has scored in Miami and Monaco while Sainz has three ninth-place finishes, leaving Williams eighth in the constructors’ standings with 11 points. Read more