Williams has decided to skip the first private tests in Barcelona. The Grove outfit will not take part in the shakedown running from 26 to 30 January. With the FIA introducing sweeping new regulations in 2026, all teams agreed to stage an extra five-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Williams says it has suffered delays in the development of the new FW48 and therefore will not participate in these practice runs.
“Atlassian Williams F1 Team has decided not to participate in next week’s shakedown in Barcelona,” the team said in an official statement. “We have experienced delays in the FW48 programme as we continue to push for maximum performance.” Instead, Williams will conduct a series of internal tests, including virtual sessions in the simulator.
Eye on Bahrain
The team is shifting its focus to the public winter tests in Bahrain and the opening weekend in Melbourne. “We look forward to getting back on track in the coming weeks and would like to thank all our fans for their continued support. There is a lot to look forward to together in 2026.”
Williams had originally planned to travel to Barcelona with a special test livery chosen by the fans. The final colour scheme, which the team says will be ‘striking’, will be revealed on 3 February and may hark back to Williams’ rich history. The team will also return to its original name in 2026: ‘Williams F1 Team.’
See the F1 calendar for 2026
