Luke Browning will arrive in Australia at the top of the F3 standings. The Briton continues the positive trend that started with the victory at the Macau GP.
Looking back at last year, Luke Browning’s performance has been steadily improving.
2023 as a rookie in F3
His experience in England – despite winning the GB4 title – made him inexperienced once he arrived in F3. Right from the start, however, it was obvious how fast he was. What was lacking was just consistency as well as experience. In the course of the season, one podium finish came – second in the Sprint Race in Spain – but, more importantly, he joined the Williams Academy. From April 2023, Briton hopes to be the new Logan Sargeant: a boy Williams has given the chance to become an F1 driver.
Last season, after a podium finish, he scored points on one occasion. The title won by Gabriel Bortoleto, however, taught how important it is not to take unnecessary risks, to use your head, and look at the long term rather than the single event.
This is the goal he has set himself since the post-season.
Macau GP: the best way to end the year
The victory at the Macau Grand Prix has given him more awareness of what can make the difference. The aim for this start of the season was to carry on the momentum started in Macau thanks to developments with the team and work also in the Williams simulator, drawing on their knowledge.
Upon signing the renewal with Hitech Pulse-Eight in F3, Browning said:
“With the things we learnt during last year’s season, I believe we will be able to develop our skills and execute what we showed recently in Macau. This championship was never going to be easy considering the level of the drivers but also simply the nature of the series. However, having already raced once at all the tracks we will be competing at next year, I believe this puts us in a very good position to score points at every weekend in the future.”
The beginning of the 2024 season in Bahrain
In Bahrain Browning was once again the fastest in the post, the result of positive work with the team. Also home of the pre-season tests – where he had been the fastest – Luke immediately set the pace right from free practice, becoming a clear contender for pole position. This then went to Dino Beganovic while he finished second.
While he finished the Sprint Race out of the points, in the Feature Race he took the victory that places him at the head of the championship 4 points ahead of Tim Tramnitz. Taking advantage of Beganovic’s slow start, he took the lead in Turn 1 without giving the impression that he could give up the position despite pressure from Christian Mansell.
At the end of the weekend, Luke said:
“It is only the first race. The campaign will be long. But it feels good to go to Melbourne leading the championship.”
The Williams Academy driver has made a good start to the season. If he continues to be consistent, he can surely achieve further positive results.
The battle for the 2024 F3 title is tight, but Luke Browning is one of the favorites. At this level, the dream can become a reality.
