Williams announced today that they will not be present at the Barcelona shakedown test set to take place next week.
Barcelona will mark the first full-running and in-person tests for the 2026 regulation cars, as teams completed filming days and private, short-run shakedowns this week and last.
F1 has more test days this year than in previous years due to the new set of regulations, which saw a complete overhaul of both chassis and engine.
All eleven teams were expected to attend, as they were offered 3 full days of testing across a 5-day week.
While Williams will not make an appearance, they will conduct their own private testing ahead of the first official test in Bahrain, taking place on February 11-13.
The team have said the decision was made following “delays in the FW48 programme” as they “push for maximum car performance.”
Williams were one of the first teams to switch full development to the 2026 car last season, as they brought a scarce amount of upgrades in 2025, though saw themselves finish fifth in the constructors’ championship.
In a team statement posted on their social channels, Williams F1 Team said: “We are looking forward to getting on track in the coming weeks and want to thank all our fans for your continued support – there is a lot to look forward to together in 2026.”
2026 is not the first time Williams has missed testing due to development delays, but it is the first under the new management company and Team Principal James Vowels.
With such a gap between Barcelona and Bahrain, the missing three-days of testing may not hurt William’s as much as missing Bahrain would due to its close proximity to the opening round in Australia.
It does, however, put the drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz on the back foot compared to their rivals, as the 2026 regulations are said to require more from drivers than ever before.
Though if the rumours of Williams failing the FIA’s crash tests are true, they may be in deeper trouble than initially believed.
That said, team principal James Vowels has been open about Williams’ prospects in the past: stating that Williams remains operationally behind compared to the big teams, and that is what will keep them from being top contenders until at the earliest 2027.
His work since becoming TP has been strong and foundational, with a clear goal for the future rather than the present. This attitude has changed Williams for the better, as it saw them bag huge talent Carlos Sainz, who went on to score two podiums for Williams in 2025.
Image: Williams F1 Team Logo