Williams skips 2026 Barcelona test amid shock F1 car delay

Williams will not take part in next week’s Formula 1 pre-season test at Barcelona, the team has revealed.

F1 will reconvene next week at the Catalan track as the world championship’s new era begins, with overhauled technical regulations featuring active aerodynamics and a near-50:50 split between combustion and electric power.

F1 squads have been open about the scale of the challenge presented by the revamped rules, and Williams’ car development has been delayed to the extent that Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz won’t run in the Barcelona test. The event is scheduled from 26-30 January, with every outfit allowed three days of running out of five.

“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,” a statement from the Grove-based outfit reads.

Williams Barcelona livery

Photo by: Williams

“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 second pre-season test is taking place in Bahrain from 11-13 February, with plenty of time for Williams to meet that deadline.

The hardship is reminiscent of the 2019 pre-season, at a time when Williams was in a dire financial situation. That year, the team missed its own planned shakedown as well as the first two days of the collective Barcelona test, completing limited running in the next two.

The context is different nowadays, with the outfit well funded by owner Dorilton Capital, but equally there was no significant regulatory overhaul back in 2019.