Williams’ 2026 F1 automobile missed the primary pre-season check in Barcelona and broke cowl for the primary time throughout the shakedown at Silverstone.
The Grove-based group loved their finest season in a decade final 12 months, climbing to fifth within the constructors’ standings.
The group additionally achieved two podium finishes late within the season because of Carlos Sainz, incomes them their finest championship place since 2016.
So the Williams group went into the brand new automobile guidelines cycle with excessive hopes of sustaining that momentum.
Nevertheless, the ahead 48 has endured a tricky winter thus far, with Williams absent from Barcelona’s pre-season shakedown check late final month.
They have been the one group to not run.
Delays within the manufacturing of latest vehicles have been cited as the rationale, however there was additionally hypothesis that the FW48 had failed crash checks and was considerably over the minimal weight restrict required to cross FIA necessities.
Nevertheless, group principal James Vowles denied there was a major weight problem, though he beforehand admitted that Williams wouldn’t know precisely how a lot the automobile weighed till observe testing was correctly carried out.
Williams handed the crash check and is scheduled to compete in his first aggressive race in Bahrain subsequent week, February 11-13.
Previous to this, the group accomplished shakedown testing of the FW48 at Silverstone on Wednesday.
Particulars of the working plan haven’t been disclosed, however groups are solely allowed to drive 200km throughout the shakedown.
On Tuesday, Williams unveiled the 2026 Challenger livery at a web based presentation.
In a media convention name forward of the livery announcement, Vowles mentioned Williams wouldn’t head to Bahrain at an obstacle because of simulator work and digital observe testing.
“What we did within the week-long VTT (digital observe check) was profitable, and what each Carlos (Sainz) and Alex (Albon) did in parallel on the simulator whereas everybody else was in Barcelona additionally labored. We’re additionally fortunate that Mercedes had sufficient runners,” he mentioned.
“So by way of gearbox and energy unit, we have now fairly a bit of knowledge again coming to Bahrain and transferring ahead.
“So I do not assume we’ll be at an obstacle after six days of testing.”
