After his 2023 Macau GP win, Luke Browning returned to F3 for the 2024 season, remaining with Hitech Pulse-Eight. However, despite more eyes on him than in 2023, especially after he was named a member of the Williams Racing Driver Academy, he persisted in showing the high calibre of racing that teams and fans had come to expect. This was particularly impressive as the British driver faced heavy competition on the 2024 F3 grid.
A strong start
In Bahrain, Browning got his 2024 F3 season off to an impressive start. After qualifying second, he started the sprint race from P11. Unfortunately, Browning missed out on points in the sprint race, managing only a 15th-place finish. However, with him having secured a front-row start for the feature race, he was predicted a podium finish. Browning did well to live up to these expectations. A good start in the feature race enabled Browning to take his maiden F3 victory, beating Christian Mansell to the top step.
Unfortunately, Browning’s struggles in the opening sprint race would become a pattern for the British driver as he finished the next two at the back of the pack. Though he would perform better in the feature races, he would miss out on podiums in both Australia and Imola.
Browning, would, however, return to the podium in Monaco, taking third place in the feature race after an eighth place in the sprint. These consistently strong feature races saw him rise to second place in the drivers’ championship fight, putting him in contention for the 2024 F3 title.
A second win and rollercoaster performances
Despite his relatively strong performances, Browning’s biggest struggle in the 2024 F3 season appeared to be his ability to maintain consistency throughout the weekend. Though he left every round with a points finish in either the sprint or feature race, he only took points from both races in Monaco.
In a season where the championship went down to the final round, consistency quickly became the aim of the game. Some drivers, like Browning, struggled with this more than others. However, despite the disappointments, Browning remained determined to succeed. This saw him take his second F3 win the the feature race at Spielberg. Unfortunately, he struggled again in the sprint race, finishing out of the points in 11th.
At the next weekend in Silverstone, he struggled through the sprint race again, finishing 24th, down a lap to the rest of the field. He managed an eighth-place finish in the feature race, but he found himself slipping down the standings. Browning left Silverstone third in the 2024 F3 drivers’ championship. He would not regain the lead, and despite his best efforts, Browning finished the season third in the 2024 F3 championship with 128 points. This was an impressive performance from the British driver.
A promotion to F2 and an F1 debut
Despite not taking the F3 title in 2024, Browning made his F2 debut, replacing fellow Williams junior driver Zak O’Sullivan at ART Grand Prix for the final three rounds of the 2024 F2 season. After scoring points on his F2 debut, and subsequently impressing the bosses at Williams, Browning was given the chance to participate in his first free practice session with the team at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He also drove the Williams FW46 during the post-season young drivers’ test, placing 11th after completing 105 laps.
Browning also secured himself a full-time seat with Hitech TGR for the 2025 F2 season, alongside Dino Beganovic. After showing what he is capable of in his second F3 season, Browning will want to repeat his strong performance and improve his consistency in his first full F2 season.
