The historic British team will not take part in the first private pre-season practice sessions in Barcelona, which will take place next week, due to delays in the build and development of their new single-seater, the FW48.
Williams will start 2026 with a warning sign that wasn’t part of the plan. The news was confirmed by the team itself in an official statement that left little room for doubt: “We have decided that we will not participate in the first private practice sessions in Barcelona due to delays in the development of our new car, the FW48. This will allow us to prioritize work on our virtual tools ahead of the pre-season tests in Bahrain.” In other words, Williams will lean heavily on the simulator and data analysis, while the rest of the teams begin logging real track miles.
In the paddock, the absence didn’t go unnoticed. Not only because of the symbolic blow of pulling out of the first runs, but because the calendar is already tightening: the official tests in Bahrain will be the big measuring stick ahead of the start of the championship, and after that comes, without pause, the season opener in Australia. For a team looking to move closer to the midfield and cut the gap to the frontrunners, missing track time at this stage can be a serious problem.
On top of that, a strong rumor has been circulating in Europe: some specialized outlets claim the FW48 still hasn’t passed the FIA crash tests, a key requirement for the car to be cleared and allowed to hit the track. While Williams hasn’t confirmed it, it’s a detail that could explain the urgency and the tone of the statement.
As if that weren’t enough, 2026 arrives with an extra challenge affecting all of Formula 1: the minimum weight has dropped to 1,693.14 pounds, 64 pounds less than the previous season. Less weight means more performance headroom, but also more complexity in building the chassis and components, with the risk that any change leads to redesigns and timelines that keep stretching out.
Even so, Williams aren’t the only team dealing with tight schedules. McLaren could also skip the first day of running in Barcelona, and Ferrari is considering a similar plan, though with the expectation of getting the car on track later in the week.
Meanwhile, in Grove they’re working against the clock. The goal is clear: to make it, even if it’s just barely, but to make it. Because in Formula 1, when you lose time in pre-season, getting it back later usually costs far too much.