Williams have confirmed they won’t be taking part in next week’s shakedown test.

Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon won’t be in action for Williams in Barcelona (Image: Getty)

Williams have confirmed they won’t be travelling to Barcelona for next week’s shakedown test ahead of the 2026 season. All 11 teams were due to be on track at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, running for a maximum of three days across the private five-day session. Earlier this week, it was rumoured that Williams wouldn’t be taking part due to unforeseen problems behind the scenes.

According to RacingNews365, the Grove outfit were struggling to pass the FIA’s mandatory crash tests with their new car, the FW48. On that basis, it was reported that Williams would be forced to skip the Barcelona test. The news was officially confirmed on Friday afternoon, with a team statement blaming ‘delays in the FW48 programme’.

The statement read: “Atlassian Williams F1 Team has taken the decision not to participate in next week’s shakedown test in Barcelona following delays in the FW48 programme as we continue to push for maximum car performance.

“The team will instead conduct a series of tests including a VTT [Virtual Test Track] programme next week with the 2026 car to prepare for the first official test in Bahrain and the first race of the season in Melbourne.

“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.”

The setback means that Williams are poised to lose one-third of the total permitted nine days of testing before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

As a result, drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz will have a maximum of three days each in the FW48 across the two Bahrain tests in February.

This isn’t the first time in recent years that Williams have been forced to skip part of the scheduled pre-season testing programme.

Back in 2019, they missed the first two days of testing because of build and design problems with their FW42 car. They eventually got onto the Barcelona circuit on the third day of the programme.

There had been plenty of optimism at Williams heading into the 2026 campaign after they finished fifth in the Constructors’ Championship last season.

They have come on leaps and bounds under the guidance of team principal James Vowles, but the news they will be missing pre-season testing in Barcelona is a major blow.

It risks leaving them behind their rivals at the start of the new season, which is particularly concerning given the clean slate provided by the new technical regulations.

Only time will tell if Williams can iron out their problems and bounce back in time for the Australian Grand Prix, which will be held on the first weekend of March.