GROVE, England — Williams will miss the first Formula 1 preseason testing of 2026 next week in Barcelona after reporting “delays” in getting its car ready for the season.
The team said Friday it still has “a lot to look forward to” despite the setback ahead of next week’s five-day test in Spain. It’s the first time that 2026-specification cars will be on track for more than 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 said in a release.
A virtual testing program is planned for next week instead as Williams now aims for the first of two tests in Bahrain next month. The Barcelona test is being held in private with a focus on reliability, with teams able to run on any three of five days.
“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,” Williams added.