Williams F1 junior Browning set for Super Formula test ahead of expected series switch

Williams Formula 1 junior Luke Browning will participate in next week’s post-season Super Formula test ahead of an anticipated switch to the Japanese series next year.

Browning, who currently races in Formula 2, is one of several drivers to have been confirmed for the Suzuka test on 10-12 December by promoter JRP.

Although the team the British driver will join for the test was not named in the announcement, it is expected he will drive for the Toyota-powered Kondo Racing squad and race for the team in 2026.

As a Super Formula rookie, Browning is eligible to appear in all three days of the test, including the final day that is reserved for drivers with fewer than four race starts.

However, Browning has also been confirmed to appear in F1’s young driver test in Abu Dhabi for Williams on 9 December, which almost certainly means he will skip the opening day at Suzuka due to the required travel time.

The 23-year-old is expected to form part of an all-new driver line-up for Kondo next year alongside ex-Alpine Formula 1 driver Jack Doohan, who has yet to be confirmed for the test.

Luke Browning, Williams, Jack Doohan, Alpine F1

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

They are set to replace Kenta Yamashita, who is moving to fellow Toyota squad KCMG, and Zak O’Sullivan, the ex-Williams junior who moved to Super Formula this season.

Although he will no longer drive for Kondo, O’Sullivan is expected to test for Team Impul at Suzuka as he bids to secure a seat with the Kazuyoshi Hoshino-led outfit, which has been rumoured to scale down to a single car amid financial difficulties.

Yamashita is poised to become team-mates with two-time World Rally champion Kalle Rovanpera at KCMG as he departs Kondo after nine seasons.

Rovanpera, who concluded his final WRC season for the time being in Saudi Arabia last weekend, is another of the seven drivers to have been named for the Suzuka test so far.

Also confirmed for the test is Toyota junior Rikuto Kobayashi, who is set to form an all-new line-up at TGM Grand Prix together with his namesake Kamui Kobayashi.

World Endurance Championship driver Kobayashi is expected to only participate on the opening day at Suzuka due to a clashing Toyota Hypercar test in Qatar.

Kalle Rovanpera, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Toyota Racing

The remaining drivers confirmed for the test so far are Miki Koyama, Kiyoshi Umegaki, Riki Okusa and Teppei Natori, although none are regarded as contenders for 2026 race seats.

Okusa has prior race experience, having made two starts for TGM at the end of 2023, and has driven in both post-season tests for Nakajima Racing since, while Nissan Super GT driver Natori last appeared in the Suzuka test two years ago for Kondo.

Former W Series driver Koyama will drive a Super Formula car for the second time after making her debut in last year’s test driving for KCMG.

Formula Regional Japan champion and Toyota junior Umegaki, meanwhile, is set for his first taste of Super Formula machinery.

JRP is expected to reveal the full entry list for the Suzuka test on Friday.