Williams say they will not take part in Barcelona Shakedown

Williams has made the strategic decision to bypass the upcoming Barcelona Shakedown, opting instead to focus on maximizing the performance of their 2026 challenger, the FW48. Citing delays in its development program, the team confirmed they will not participate in the January 26-30 track sessions at Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya. While this decision means sacrificing valuable early track time, Williams stated they would conduct their own private testing and a VTT program next week. This focused approach aims to better prepare them for the first official pre-season test in Bahrain, scheduled for February 11-13, and ultimately the opening race of the 2026 season.