Williams withdraws from Barcelona test: FW48 delays sideline Albon and Sainz

Key Highlights

• Other reports suggest the team is battling significant technical issues, including a chassis that is currently over the minimum weight limit.
• In a formal statement, the Grove-based outfit confirmed it will not join the other 10 teams, including the debuting Cadillac squad, at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the private three-day event.
• “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.
• Alternative Testing Strategy To mitigate the loss of track time, Williams intends to pivot to internal simulation.
• The team will conduct a VTT (Virtual Track Testing) programme next week to prepare for the first official pre-season test in Bahrain, scheduled for February 11–13.