One Formula 1 outfit has confirmed it will sit out the opening pre-season test ahead of the sweeping 2026 regulations, delivering an unexpected setback just days before running begins. The behind-closed-doors session at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, scheduled for January 26–30, is intended to help teams adapt to the sport’s radically revised aerodynamic and downforce frameworks rather than chase outright performance.
The early test comes at a turbulent moment for the grid, with several teams still deep in development. Notably, Williams, Cadillac, McLaren, and Aston Martin will not have unveiled their 2026 liveries by the time cars are due on track, underscoring how compressed and demanding the winter has been for all 11 teams navigating the regulation overhaul.
Speculation intensified last week when reports suggested multiple teams could struggle to field a race-ready car in Barcelona due to design and logistical hurdles following the short turnaround from the 2025 season. Those rumours soon centered on Williams, with claims that weight and chassis issues could prevent the team from even attempting the initial shakedown.
Williams have now put an end to the uncertainty by formally confirming their absence from the Barcelona test. In a statement, the team explained that delays in the FW48 programme prompted a strategic decision to prioritize development work away from the circuit, including simulator and VTT testing, as they aim to maximize performance ahead of the first official test in Bahrain.
With Bahrain’s test window from February 11–13 now the clear target, Williams appear focused on arriving with a more refined and competitive package rather than rushing an incomplete car onto the track. While missing early mileage is far from ideal, the team will hope a measured approach pays dividends as they build on a 2025 season that ended with fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship and flashes of strong late-season form.
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