This weekend marks the 2025 Italian Grand Prix in Monza. With a less than ideal weekend for Browning last season, finishing P6 and P20 in each race respectively, he searches for redemption. This season feels to be a chance for Championship redemption also—the Brit narrowly missing the Championship last year.
Browning has found a strong format for preparation, and a strong plan for the final races of this season. With this in mind, he believes he can show the pace he showed in the first portion of the season. This is his chance to come back and fight for the Championship.
Invicta’s history of strong performance in Monza does not threaten Browning
The 2024 Italian GP was a strong round for Invicta Racing’s F2 outfit. Within their F2 crew, Qualifying was not strong, with Maini qualifying P15, and Bortoleto qualifying last, in P22. Despite this, Bortoleto fought back in the Feature Race to climb the entire field and take the win.
A media representative asked Browning about whether this was something that concerned him for this weekend’s sessions. While he acknowledges how strong Invicta was in 2024, he also knows that the pace he showed last time out. He believes he was almost strong enough for pole position. Despite this, the Brit doesn’t believe Invicta to have anything exceptional, or anything more than other teams.
Browning goes on to state that he does not believe Invicta to have a stronger car then anyone else. A lot of performance comes down to preparation, but claims that Hitech has prepared well also. Overall, he looks forward to challenging both Invicta, and the rest of the grid this weekend.
“Yeah I don’t know because I was fastest in FP last time out so talking about getting up to speed quickly I think I was the fastest but yeah didn’t materialise in this Quali or I did but it was quite close. I could have been on pole last round out but it’s the way it goes. It’s difficult to come together sometimes but the pace is there so yeah if I’m honest I don’t think they’ve got anything exceptional.
“They’ve done a really good job this year. It’s probably been a combination of the two of them but by no means do I think they’ve got a much better car than anyone else on the grid and it’ll be a lot down to as John says the preparation that I’m sure they put in with the drivers but we did that too so I’m looking forward to challenging them and to be honest the rest of the grid coming into Monza.”
Qualifying approach for Monza
Unlike many other circuits, Browning commented on the idea of a tow being minority helpful at Monza. Despite a perfect tow in Qualifying last season, the car in front of him went off. This saw his entire lap went down the drain. While a tow can be beneficial when all goes your way, its important a driver is capable of pure pace while their tyres are in the window.
“I don’t know yet. I think is the honest answer. Obviously if you get a tow it’s not very very helpful here. Equally you know if the guy goes off in front then you’re in trouble. So last year I had the perfect tow all the way up until the two Lesmos where the car in front of me went off and then my lap was destroyed. Yeah that’s the way it goes in qualifying sometimes and you’ve got to be careful. So yeah I think it’s if you can get one great, if not you’ve got to do the best job you can with the tyres in the window hopefully.”
Finding a rhythm for the final rounds
The final rounds after Monza take place outside of Europe. A media outlet asked Browning how he looked to proceed with this season. The Brit acknowledges that while things may occur out of his control, he will continue on to the best of his ability. He knows it’s important to stay composed and actively turn challenges into motivation.
“Yeah I think it’s a good question. I think that is exactly the question I sat there and asked myself over the summer break what’s this championship going to take to win it? What do I need to do to give myself the best opportunity?
“What does that look like for Luke Browning? For me what that looks like is maybe there are things that are going to happen that are outside of my control and how can I do that to the best of my ability and just try not to get frustrated with any situation that goes not my way and take motivation from the positive things that happen. I think that’s it. I think it’s just staying positive, having a good attitude and if I look at it here, I’m sat here looking at a project to be going on in my first year of Formula 2. I’ve got the most lap podiums in the year. I’ve got the opportunity to fight for the championship.“
Motivating factors for the rest of the season
Browning finds major motivation from how his 2026 contract is looking. Sitting on the edge of Formula 1 remains largely exciting, but he has to be sure he doesn’t let this cloud his judgement. His motivation is at an all time high, especially in comparison to this time last year.
“How motivating is that for a young driver being on the fringe of Formula 1 with Williams looking at me and 26 contracts being the way they are? Equally it’s important not to look at it when I’m at this stage in Formula 2 but it’s so exciting. The motivation is absolutely through the roof. I’m hoping that all my preparation now shows coming back into Monza after the break. At this point last year I was tired and ready for the season to end.“
The final rounds are a whole new season
The Brit noted how he feels as though this second part of the season is a whole seperate season—a chance to break away from his prior errors. While unsure what went wrong at the beginning of last season, he hopes to repeat the strong form he once had.
“This point in season in Formula 2 I feel like I’m only just starting. It’s like a second year starting for me. I feel like all the rookie mistakes early on in the year is finished. It’s almost like 10 rounds of Formula 3 are done and now I’m coming into my second season ready to smash it. I don’t know what happened at the start of my second year in Formula 3. I won the first race and we won Macau so I’m ready to repeat that form hopefully.”
Colton Herta joining the F2 grid?
While rumours spiral surrounding the potential of Colton Herta joining the 2026 F2 grid, Browning notes he hasn’t heard a lot about these. Cadillac F1 Team announced Colton Herta as their test driver. This saw the start of these rumours.
“I’ve not actually seen anything to be honest. I’ve not seen too much on it. Yeah I mean if he wants to get to Formula One doing Formula Two is the way to do it. So yeah good for him. Wish him all the best if he joins next year.”
Sim Racing for preparation
A large part of Browning’s life revolves around sim racing on livestreams. He takes part in this live streams with his close friends, Max Verstappen and Gabriel Bortoleto. Spending time on the simulator at home is a practise that Browning has had for years. It finds this to be valuable preparation, but also enjoys playing other games with friends—giving a glimpse into the life of drivers off of the track.
“Yeah so yeah you’re not wrong. It plays a big part in my life being honest as I think it’s probably been shown but it’s part of sort of the red line train group made for a few years now and yeah the preparation it helps massively. I spend a lot of time in the simulator at home, have done for years and I think it’s sort of part of the new generation now but honestly probably Max [Verstappen] started so yeah I think me, Gabi [Bortoleto], Max [Verstappen] spend a lot of time in the sim or playing stupid games like COD at home. And yeah it was live streamed for the viewers which is always fun as a little bit of an insight of what we get up to when we’re not busy.“
The correlation between sim racing and real life racing
The direct correlation of sim racing and on track racing is clear. An example of this for Browning is GT Racing with Verstappen.com. At current, Verstappen has Chris Lulham competing for the team. Lulham is sim racing World Champion, and has taken his performance into on track racing.
A project like such is something Browning strives to be able to create himself one day. Once he feels as though he has made it in the sport, he would love to help others make it, or get their start in the sport.
“It’s super the correlation between sim driving and real driving is really there. If you look at the GT side now you’ve got the Verstappen.com car that’s got Chris Lulham behind the wheels and obviously Chris was a world champion in sim racing and was exceptional and Max [Verstappen] has given him the opportunity to take the step into GT cars and he’s absolutely smashing it so I think that just shows that the correlation between sim racing and real racing is massive and I think that’s one thing I’d love to do when I hopefully make it is give the opportunity to not only them but the opportunity to people to be able to get into the sport.”
Guidance from a four time World Champion
Browning is fortunate enough to receive guidance from a four time Formula 1 World Champion—Max Verstappen. Right from his early days, he has driven to the limits in order to get the most out of the machinery he is racing. Verstappen has fight, something Browning acknowledges Bortoleto to have also.
The guidance Browning receives is something he sees to be necessary, acknowledging the mature eye looking in keeps him straight. The main benefit from his relationship with Verstappen comes back to his sim racing. Having the ability to race against him online, and learn his tips and tricks has been a key factor for the Brit.
“Yeah I think the main thing, you see Max’s [Verstappen] early career right and he’s driving for the best visibility and getting the most out of the car. I love that fight he has and so and Gabriel [Bortoleto] has that as well.
“I think it’s just general guidance you know if I get to a certain point in my career and at some point it’s good to have a more mature eye look at it and go you know what actually is the best way to go about it. But the main thing I get from Max is just the ability to drive together on the simulator and you know I’ve been friends with Max [Verstappen] since I was in Formula 4.”
