Williams F1 withdraws from Barcelona preseason testing amidst 2026 car delays
Williams will miss next week's first Formula 1 preseason testing in Barcelona due to delays in preparing its car for the upcoming season. The team has opted for a virtual testing program instead and now aims for the first of two tests in Bahrain next month. This decision comes as Williams continues to focus on maximizing car performance for the 2026 season, which will feature new car specifications.
Williams announced Friday that it still has "a lot to look forward to" despite this setback. The Barcelona test is the first opportunity for teams to run 2026-specification cars on track beyond brief filming and reliability runs.
"Atlassian Williams F1 Team has taken the decision not to participate in next week’s shakedown test in Barcelona following delays in the FW48 program as we continue to push for maximum car performance," the team stated.
The Barcelona test is being held in private, with a focus on reliability. Teams are permitted to run on any three of the five available days.
Williams added, "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."
This withdrawal represents a setback for Williams, a team that showed improvement throughout the 2025 season, securing two podium finishes with driver Carlos Sainz, Jr. Williams had been notably open about its early and detailed planning for the 2026 season. The team was betting that significant regulation changes could alter the competitive landscape and allow for progress. Driver Alex Albon had indicated before the 2025 season even began that he was testing potential 2026 ideas in the team's simulator.
The decision to withdraw from the initial test is reminiscent of a past difficult period for Williams. The team missed the opening days of testing in 2019 when its car was not ready. That season proved to be one of the team's worst, with only a single point scored throughout the entire year. The team's focus now shifts to the Bahrain tests next month.