Williams has revealed it will not take part in next week’s pre-season Formula 1 shakedown test in Barcelona, citing delays to its 2026 car as it pursues maximum performance.

The Grove-based team announced on Friday that the FW48 programme has fallen behind schedule, forcing the team to withdraw from the Barcelona running that will see several teams get their first taste of F1’s new technical regulations.

“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 said in a statement.

Rather than rushing to Barcelona, Williams will instead conduct its own testing programme, including a Virtual Integration Test (VIT) with the 2026 car, as it works to be ready for the first official pre-season test in Bahrain.

The decision means Williams will miss valuable track time at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where teams were set to shake down their all-new cars under F1’s revolutionary 2026 regulations.

However, the team feels the extra development time will prove more beneficial than rushing an unfinished package to Spain.

Williams said it remains confident of being ready for the Bahrain test and the season-opening Australian Grand Prix 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 statement concluded.

Testing set to be crucial 

As the 2026 season looms closer, Formula 1 teams are gearing up for what promises to be one of the most significant regulation transitions in the championship’s history.

With sweeping changes to aerodynamics, power units and sustainability objectives, the winter testing period has been expanded and reshaped to give teams ample track time to refine their challengers before the first race in Melbourne.

Unlike recent years – where a single, condensed test was the norm – the 2026 pre-season will consist of three distinct test sessions, spanning two venues and totalling 11 days of track time.

Kicking off with a longer, private run in Barcelona and culminating with consecutive sessions in the Bahrain, this schedule is designed to maximise opportunities for teams to understand the radical new machinery under real-world conditions.

Below is the official pre-season testing schedule confirmed by Formula 1 and the FIA.

Test No1 – Barcelona – 26-30 January

The winter testing window allows teams to address the challenges of new technical regulations and gives fans a first real glimpse of the 2026 cars in action.

The Barcelona test – held privately with no public attendance – provides an initial shakedown of the cars.

Test No2 – Bahrain – 11-13 February

The first Bahrain test marks the point at which the 2026 picture starts to look clearer.

With track action open to media and fans, teams move beyond basic systems checks and start to explore performance, giving the first meaningful – if still heavily caveated – indications of competitive order.

Test No3 – Bahrain – 18-20 February

The second and final Bahrain test is where preparation gives way to readiness.

Set-ups are refined, reliability concerns either resolved or exposed, and attention quietly shifts towards race-weekend execution, as teams leave Sakhir with their Melbourne specifications effectively locked in.