Williams ready to take part in Bahrain testing – Vowles

Williams Team Principal James Vowles has confirmed the team's 2026 car has passed all mandatory crash tests and is ready for official pre-season testing in Bahrain, despite missing the Barcelona Shakedown. Vowles admitted that skipping Barcelona was "incredibly painful" but a strategic decision to push the limits of performance under new regulations without compromising spare parts for later races. He highlighted the extensive challenges in developing the new car, describing it as three times more complicated. The team will conduct a filming day before the first Bahrain test, and Vowles expressed confidence that with six days of testing and insights from Mercedes' power unit, they will be well-prepared for the season opener.