Williams F1 Reserve Luke Browning Emerges Unscathed from Terrifying Airborne Crash During Super Formula Testing

Williams F1 reserve Luke Browning walks away from an airborne crash at Suzuka's 130R. Discover how safety gear saved him during Super Formula testing.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 26, 2026, 7:18 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Motorsport.com

Aquaplaning at One of Racing’s Most Dangerous Corners

The precarious nature of wet-weather testing at the Suzuka Circuit was laid bare on Wednesday when Williams F1 reserve driver Luke Browning suffered a massive high-speed accident. Approximately 80 minutes into the afternoon session of the official Super Formula pre-season test, torrential rain caused Browning’s #3 Kondo Racing Dallara-Toyota to lose grip. Entering the legendary 130R—a left-hand curve taken at nearly 300 kph in dry conditions—the car struck a patch of standing water and aquaplaned. Browning, effectively a passenger at that point, spun helplessly across the wet gravel trap toward the outer safety barriers.

Vaulting the Barriers: A Terrifying Sequence

Onboard footage and eyewitness reports described a "shocking" sequence of events as the car made contact with the Tecpro wall. The angle of the impact, combined with the momentum of the spin, caused the single-seater to vault entirely over the tire barrier and catch fencing. The car somersaulted through the air for nearly two seconds before coming to a rest upside down on an embankment behind the safety perimeter. The scene was reminiscent of Allan McNish's infamous 2002 F1 crash at the same corner, highlighting the persistent risks of the high-speed section even with modern safety advancements.

The Lifesaving Role of the HANS Device and Halo

Despite the car landing heavily on its front axle and remaining inverted, Browning was able to extricate himself from the wreckage with assistance from track marshals. Speaking to reporters shortly after, he confirmed he was "completely fine" and experiencing no pain. Browning was quick to praise the safety equipment that protected him during the impact, specifically stating, "The HANS device is fantastic—it saved my neck, I would have thought." The integrated Halo cockpit protection also likely played a crucial role in shielding the driver's head as the car landed upside down on the grass verge.