Williams Releases Statement Over Critical Barcelona F1 Testing Rumors

Williams will miss nan first pre-season trial of nan 2026 play successful what is simply a awesome setback for nan team.

The squad based successful Grove, England, enjoyed a vastly improved run past year, finishing 5th successful nan constructors' standings by kindness of beardown performances from Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz - nan Spaniard picking up podiums successful Azerbaijan and Qatar.

With caller regulations for chassis, aerodynamics, and powerfulness units this term, teams look a upland to climb some successful capacity and reliability early on, and arsenic such, pre-season testing has been accrued from 1 three-day trial to three.

The first of these takes spot astatine nan Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya adjacent week down closed doors, pinch teams permitted to tally connected immoderate 3 days retired of five.

But owing to chassis issues, Williams will beryllium forced to hold until February's 2 tests astatine nan Bahrain International Circuit earlier performing immoderate running.

Williams statement

In a connection released connected Friday, January 23, Williams explained: "Atlassian Williams F1 Team has taken nan determination not to participate successful adjacent week’s shakedown trial successful Barcelona pursuing delays successful nan FW48 programme arsenic we proceed to push for maximum car performance.

"The squad will alternatively behaviour a bid of tests including a VTT programme, adjacent week pinch nan 2026 car to hole for nan first charismatic trial successful Bahrain and nan first title of nan play successful Melbourne.

"We are looking guardant to getting connected way successful nan coming weeks and want to convey each our fans for your continued support – location is simply a batch to look guardant to together successful 2026."

Missing nan first trial intends that Albon and Sainz will get conscionable 3 days each down nan instrumentality of nan caller machinery earlier nan first title of nan play astatine nan Australian Grand Prix.

Williams was expected to bask a beardown commencement to nan play aft its play of building nether James Vowles, pinch Mercedes powerfulness rumored to beryllium nan ascendant unit early on.

The German shaper is astatine nan halfway of a large wind regarding compression ratios, pinch Audi, Honda and Ferrari understood to person raised complaints pinch nan FIA complete a suspected loophole successful nan regulations recovered by Mercedes.

Williams has missed a pre-season trial earlier successful 2019, erstwhile nan FW29 was not fresh for testing successful Barcelona. That led to nan then-chief method officer, Paddy Lowe, leaving his position later that year.

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