Williams have confirmed they will not take part in the upcoming Barcelona Shakedown as the team focuses its efforts on maximizing performance ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The shakedown, scheduled to run from January 26 to 30 at Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya, will give teams an additional three days of running with their new cars. The session is designed to provide extra preparation time beyond the standard pre-season test in Bahrain, particularly as Formula 1 continues its transition into updated regulations for 2026.
However, Atlassian Williams Racing announced that delays in the development of its FW48 program have led to the decision to skip the event. In a statement, the team explained that the priority remains ensuring the strongest possible performance package before the start of the season.
“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 said.
Instead of attending the Barcelona running, Williams will complete its own private testing program ahead of the first official pre-season test. The team plans to carry out a series of sessions, including a Virtual Track Testing (VTT) program with the 2026 car, as it builds toward the Bahrain test scheduled for February 11 to 13.
Williams added that the alternative approach is intended to ensure they are fully prepared for the opening race of the new 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,” the statement continued. “There is a lot to look forward to together in 2026.”
With the countdown now underway to the first official running of the year, Williams’ absence from Barcelona will be one of the early storylines of the winter as teams ramp up preparations for what is expected to be a pivotal season under the sport’s evolving technical landscape.