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Williams has become the final Formula 1 team to take to the track with its 2026 challenger, as the FW48 finally completed its maiden shakedown run at Silverstone on Wednesday. The historic moment came just one week after the Grove-based outfit controversially skipped the Barcelona collective test, making it the only team to miss the opening pre-season running of the new regulation cycle.
The delayed debut represents a significant milestone for a team that has worked tirelessly under considerable pressure to deliver its new car on schedule. Team Principal James Vowles acknowledged the achievement with characteristic candor, stating: "This was a milestone day for us and it is always a very proud moment to see a new car on track for the first time. The team has absolutely pulled together under the pressure of the situation and delivered a car today."
Williams' decision to skip Barcelona was met with considerable speculation within the paddock. The team cited "delays in the FW48 programme" as the reason, with Vowles revealing a critical technical challenge. "The amount of load going through our system is about three times what it used to be," he explained, highlighting the unprecedented demands imposed by the 2026 regulation overhaul affecting both chassis and power unit specifications.
Rather than waste time waiting at the Catalan circuit, Williams pivoted to a Virtual Track Test (VTT) programme—a sophisticated alternative that involved placing most of the physical car, including "the chassis, the engine, the gearbox," through specialized rigs to simulate on-track conditions. Vowles insisted the VTT was "successful," emphasizing that the team "did the mileage that we wanted to do" while competitors completed their Barcelona running.
Both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz took turns behind the wheel at the home of the British Grand Prix, providing the team with crucial first-hand feedback on the new machinery. The FW48 ran in a special fan-selected testing livery rather than its official race colors—a dark blue and black scheme with light blue and white accents on the sidepods—giving the team flexibility to debut its permanent aesthetic separately.
Albon offered an encouraging assessment following the running: "That's shakedown done. Obviously a few bits of data to look at and areas to improve, but generally a fairly smooth day." The British driver praised the weather conditions and expressed optimism about the work ahead: "We had decent weather for Silverstone at this time of year and glad to finally be in the car and driving the FW48. Our full focus is on Bahrain now, looking at the data and getting ready for the start of the season."
Sainz, fresh from securing two podium finishes last season, echoed his teammate's sentiments: "It's always an exciting, special day for the drivers, the mechanics and the entire team and it's been a great effort from everyone to get the car on track today." The Spanish driver highlighted the importance of the upcoming Bahrain running: "We are ready to fly to Bahrain in a few days where we'll dive into more complete run plans, so I'm looking forward to it!"
The Silverstone shakedown represents only the beginning of Williams' pre-season preparations. The team will conduct another promotional filming day in Bahrain on February 10, followed by the first three-day official pre-season test on February 11-13. A second test session will follow on February 18-20 at the same venue, providing ample opportunity to maximize learning before the 2026 season opener in Melbourne on March 6-8.
Vowles emphasized that the work is far from complete: "We were able to understand more about our package in preparation for Bahrain next week, and Carlos and Alex were able to provide some positive feedback to direct us, while also identifying some minor issues for us to clean up between now and then. The push isn't over yet – this is just the beginning and there is more in front of us."
Williams enters the new regulation cycle on the back of its strongest season in nearly a decade. The team's fifth-place finish in the 2025 constructors' championship—their best result since 2017—was bolstered by two podium finishes courtesy of Sainz in Baku and Qatar. This momentum places considerable expectation on the FW48 to maintain competitive progress despite the production challenges that have defined its winter.
The Silverstone shakedown, while arriving later than preferred, demonstrates Williams' determination to maximize every available opportunity for development and data collection. With the official pre-season tests just days away, the team's intensive Bahrain programme will be critical in bridging the gap created by its Barcelona absence and preparing both drivers and engineers for the championship campaign ahead.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.