Victor Martins continues to play a key role at Williams Racing in 2026 as the team’s simulator and development driver. His work focuses on preparing the FW48 car’s energy management and development ahead of race weekends, offering feedback that supports race drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon. While Martins’ involvement remains primarily behind the scenes, his contributions form part of the broader technical efforts within the team.
Martins, who is a former Formula 3 champion and currently competes in Alpine Hypercar racing, has limited experience driving the current Williams Formula 1® car in official sessions. He took part in a single FP1 outing at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix and has participated in some Testing of Previous Cars programme days. For 2026, no further FP1 runs are planned for him so far, emphasizing his simulator and development responsibilities rather than race driving.
In addition to working on the FW48 simulator, Martins also develops a separate simulator tailored for the Williams Young Driver Academy. This setup replicates junior category cars such as Formula 2 and Formula 3, helping to prepare emerging talent within the team’s driver development programme.
Martins has highlighted the challenge of simulator work given the lack of real car mileage, relying heavily on track data and driver feedback to refine the simulator’s accuracy. His role involves supporting the race drivers by providing insights that can influence car setup and energy deployment strategies during race weekends.
While his simulator work is mainly focused on the current FW48 car, Martins has also contributed to early development efforts for the upcoming FW49 model. This involvement allows him to stay closely connected to the technical side of the team’s Formula 1® programme.
Balancing his Williams role with his broader motorsport career, Martins continues to compete in the World Endurance Championship and is considering opportunities in Formula E. He notes the technical crossover between Formula 1® electrical systems and Hypercar technology, which benefits his overall racing experience and development as a driver.
Victor Martins views his position at Williams as an important step in maintaining a foothold in Formula 1® while expanding his skills across different racing disciplines. His contributions remain supportive and developmental, providing valuable input to the team without confirmed plans for further official Formula 1® race outings in 2026.