Williams won’t be joining the first pre-season test in Barcelona, after confirming they are behind schedule and have had to adjust their plans.
The Barcelona event runs for five days behind closed doors, but each team is limited to three days of running. Given how different next year’s cars will be, every lap carries more weight than usual.
There are whispers that Williams may have hit some snags with the FIA crash tests, though nothing official has been said on that front.
Aston Martin Facing Issues Ahead of F1 Testing, Similar to Williams
According to The Times, Aston Martin might soon be joining Williams in missing out on the first test of the year, with crash tests again thought to be the issue.
The Telegraph also reported that Lawrence Stroll’s squad have ‘similar issues’ in those same crash tests. Aston Martin are hoping to debut their Honda engine in Spain.
Honda recently launched their new power unit earlier this week but Aston Martin will be the last team on the grid to formally unveil their 2026 car. That will happen on February 9th.
There have been concerns about whether Honda has had enough time to bring its engine up to standard for 2026, though those issues are not believed to be linked directly to crash test problems.
Even so, reports suggest team principal Adrian Newey is already shifting focus towards 2027, which may be a response to what’s been a challenging winter for the team so far.
Williams skip Barcelona test by choice, says Vowles
According to Bild, Williams could have attended the Barcelona shakedown by making the required changes to meet crash test standards.
But James Vowles reportedly opted out, choosing not to risk their preparation or stretch their limited spare parts before the season even began.
Williams were hoping to build on last season’s fifth-place finish and push closer to the top four. But Bild claim that Vowles’ decision hasn’t gone down well at the factory, with a noticeable dip in morale among staff.
While it’s far too early to draw conclusions about Williams’ season from this setback alone, it does raise questions after Vowles had previously assured there would be ‘no delays’ this year.
Read More Like This:
- Adrian Newey told Honda are out of time to finish Aston Martin’s 2026 F1 engine
- Williams forced to skip 2026 Barcelona test after failing ‘mandatory’ FIA inspection
- Audi admit “we are not ready” after unsuccessful first Formula 1 test
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