Williams to overlook opening F1 2026 take a look at amid FW48 delays

The Williams F1 staff will miss the primary week of pre-season testing in Barcelona subsequent week. 

Williams confirmed on Friday their determination to skip the collective shakedown, which runs from 26-30 January on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, owing to “delays within the FW48 programme”. 

The Grove-based outfit say this comes because the staff pushes “for max automotive efficiency” forward of the 2026 F1 season. 

“Atlassian Williams F1 Group has taken the choice to not take part in subsequent week’s shakedown take a look at in Barcelona following delays within the FW48 programme as we proceed to push for max automotive efficiency,” a staff assertion learn.  “The staff will as a substitute conduct a sequence of checks together with a VTT programme subsequent week with the 2026 automotive to arrange for the primary official take a look at in Bahrain and the primary race of the season in Melbourne.   “We’re trying ahead to getting on observe within the coming weeks and need to thank all our followers on your continued assist – there’s a lot to stay up for collectively in 2026.”

Williams celebrated their greatest F1 end in a decade by taking fifth place within the constructors’ championship final yr due to the efforts of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, who claimed two beautiful podiums. 

All 11 F1 groups have been invited to an preliminary shakedown take a look at that might be held behind closed doorways at Barcelona. 

Groups are permitted to run on any three of the 5 days, with McLaren confirming they may miss not less than the primary day to prioritise growth time.