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Luke Browning won the F4 British Championship in 2020, the GB3 Championship in 2023, and the Macau Grand Prix in 2023, but as the Atlassian Williams team\u2019s first reserve driver for Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, the 24-year-old must balance his own competitive seasons with the additional demands of supporting the F1 team. In this exclusive chat with Muscle & Fitness<\/em>, the Chelsea, England, born athlete explains how he first fell in love with fast moving vehicles, and why he still relies on two wheels to stay in shape.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEverything was a race since I was four or five years old,\u201d says Browning, who notes that his competitive streak was firmly instilled as a youngster, because his dad never let him win for the sake of appeasement. \u201cMy dad is the most competitive man in the world, and he never let me win anything, growing up,\u201d he explains, sharing that his fortunes would change by the time the youngster reached his teens, because Browning had developed a skill for sprinting past his pops.<\/span><\/p>\n Initially, he took up motocross as a form of competitive racing, but after an accident forced Browning off his bike, mother soon stepped in. \u201cMy mum said, \u2018get that bike sold,\u2019 and the bike was sold within a week,\u201d he recalls. Now forced to look for a safer sport to dive into, the call of the race was never far away. \u201cI chose the sport that was arguably the most difficult to get into, and the most expensive,\u201d he says of his switch to four wheels. \u201cThat want and desire, to be the best, was something that really took hold in motorsport.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Indeed, Luke Browning is certainly one of the most promising stars in motorsport. As a junior saloon driver, he won a \u201cTeen Racer of the Year\u201d award in 2016<\/a> and has kept his foot firmly down ever since. In 2022, he was given the Aston Martin Autosport British Racing Driver\u2019s Club award that recognizes young talent, and in 2023 became a member of the Atlassian Williams Driver Academy, where Browning not only races his own seasons, such as his recent foray into Super Formula, but also serves as a reserve to Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz in Formula One. \u201cThey\u2019ve really looked after me and nurtured me,\u201d explains Browning of his dream team. But while this racer may be young, Browning certainly has a lot of experience, and explains that he must stay ready for the day that he is called upon, to turn practice into reality on the F1 course.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The British racer explains that sitting upright in a fast, vibrating, vehicle while wearing a heavy helmet can play havoc on the neck. So, he undertakes workouts that are designed to provide strong posture without going too heavy. \u201cThere are a lot of muscles in the neck,\u201d says Browning. \u201cSo, for me, I wouldn\u2019t do high loads.\u201d Instead, the racer reps for endurance by utilizing movements that build the rotator cuff in the shoulder, and practices long holds on cable extensions to improve his rotation at the end of the load. Other exercises designed to strengthen the core, neck, and shoulders include the cable or banded Pallof press<\/a><\/span> or the dumbbell\/kettlebell shoulder press, once again concentrating on time under tension, rather than excessive weights that could risk injury.<\/span><\/p>\n Such training leads to real-life results on the race-course notes Browning, explaining that functional workouts not only strengthen his neck and shoulders, but also accelerate his recovery times when taking sharp corners, helping him to clear the lactic acid away from his neck muscles quicker than if he didn\u2019t put the work in.<\/span><\/p>\n Browning may have sold the motorbike, but his bicycle still provides a prime way to stay in peak condition when riding with two wheels, especially with his head tucked between his shoulders and elbows in rather than flaring out. \u201cIf you\u2019re sat in an aero position for a long time, like an hour, or an hour and a half, this builds up massive endurance down the back of your neck,\u201d explains the Atlassian Williams team member.<\/span><\/p>\n Cycling also offers a chance to find mental clarity. \u201cI like to get out,\u201d says Browning. \u201cIt\u2019s a great way for me to turn my mind off things, and it\u2019s also just great for the cardiovascular base.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe do quite a lot of karting,\u201d adds Browning, who shares that he wears a heavier helmet to further strengthen his neck and shoulders. \u201cThen we drive around and\u00a0 do as many laps as we can before we feel tired,\u201d he tells M&F.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Of course, hydration is also key for this athlete, who explains that drivers undertake a process of pre-loading electrolytes well ahead of a race, to make sure that they are in the best possible condition when getting inside the car. This is essential, says the young driver, who explains that his concentration can last much longer when he has his minerals and fluids in good check.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With such a bright future ahead, Luke Browning understands that consistency is critical to a successful career behind the wheel, and this means putting in the hard work on days when motivation levels are low. \u201cI don\u2019t particularly enjoy having to maintain this sort of stuff to be here,\u201d explains Browning. \u201cBut what I do enjoy is the feeling, when I get in the car, that I\u2019m just as fit as anyone else, if not fitter, and therefore when I get to the end of the race, I\u2019m going to be able to perform and maybe others aren\u2019t, and that\u2019s probably what motivates me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n With Luke Browning now announced as making his second official practice session at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix in Monza, in Alex Albon\u2019s FW48 Formula One car no less, this driver\u2019s consistency continues to pay off.<\/span><\/p>\n To follow Luke Browning on Instagram, click here.<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nHow Luke Browning Keeps His Fitness Prepped for Pole Position<\/h2>\n
Neck and Shoulder Stability Workouts<\/h3>\n
Cycling<\/h3>\n
Kart Racing<\/h3>\n