Williams F1 confirm delays forcing to miss shakedown
23rd January 2026Williams F1 team has confirmed they’re set to miss the first set of pre-season tests during shakedown week, following delays in their programme.
Feature image credit: Getty Images // Red Bull Content Pool
On Friday, the team confirmed that they have made the decision not to participate in the behind-closed-doors pre-season test in Barcelona next week, dubbed ‘Shakedown Week’ by Formula 1.
The team confirmed it was due to delays in their cars programme, and will now conduct a series of tests, including a VTT [Virtual Test Track] programme.
However, Williams is still expected to conduct their testing programmes in the following two weeks of testing, in Bahrain.
Statement from Atlassian Williams F1 Team. pic.twitter.com/N4O1F6cgUz
— Atlassian Williams F1 Team (@WilliamsF1) January 23, 2026
In their statement, Williams said:
“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 will instead conduct a series of tests including a VTT 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.”
Rumours that have circulated and reported claim that the team had not passed the required crash test which would allow them to participate at the Spanish Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
As long as the team get to Bahrain and can test their car, it means their first official running in a F1 session will be in Bahrain, two weeks before the season opener in Melbourne, Australia, on March 6-8.
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
