Williams have confirmed they will not be participating in subsequent week’s shakedown check.
Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon will not be in motion for Williams in Barcelona (Picture: Getty)
Williams have confirmed they will not be travelling to Barcelona for subsequent week’s shakedown check forward of the 2026 season. All 11 groups had been on account of be on monitor on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, working for a most of three days throughout the non-public five-day session. Earlier this week, it was rumoured that Williams would not be participating on account of unexpected issues behind the scenes.
In keeping with RacingNews365, the Grove outfit had been struggling to cross the FIA’s necessary crash checks with their new automotive, the FW48. On that foundation, it was reported that Williams could be pressured to skip the Barcelona check. The information was formally confirmed on Friday afternoon, with a crew assertion blaming ‘delays within the FW48 programme’.
The assertion learn: “Atlassian Williams F1 Group has taken the choice to not take part in subsequent week’s shakedown check in Barcelona following delays within the FW48 programme as we proceed to push for optimum automotive efficiency.
“The crew will as a substitute conduct a collection of checks together with a VTT [Virtual Test Track] programme subsequent week with the 2026 automotive to arrange for the primary official check in Bahrain and the primary race of the season in Melbourne.
“We’re wanting ahead to getting on monitor within the coming weeks and need to thank all our followers to your continued help. There’s a lot to stay up for collectively in 2026.”
The setback signifies that Williams are poised to lose one-third of the whole permitted 9 days of testing earlier than the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
In consequence, drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz could have a most of three days every within the FW48 throughout the 2 Bahrain checks in February.
Assertion from Atlassian Williams F1 Group. pic.twitter.com/N4O1F6cgUz
— Atlassian Williams F1 Group (@WilliamsF1) January 23, 2026
This is not the primary time lately that Williams have been pressured to skip a part of the scheduled pre-season testing programme.
Again in 2019, they missed the primary two days of testing due to construct and design issues with their FW42 automotive. They finally obtained onto the Barcelona circuit on the third day of the programme.
There had been loads of optimism at Williams heading into the 2026 marketing campaign after they completed fifth within the Constructors’ Championship final season.
They’ve come on leaps and bounds below the steering of crew principal James Vowles, however the information they are going to be lacking pre-season testing in Barcelona is a serious blow.
It dangers leaving them behind their rivals firstly of the brand new season, which is especially regarding given the clear slate supplied by the brand new technical laws.
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Solely time will inform if Williams can iron out their issues and bounce again in time for the Australian Grand Prix, which will likely be held on the primary weekend of March.
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