Williams has announced that it will miss the Barcelona tests. Important mileage will be lost for James Vowles’ team, but they had no other option. The news had been circulating among the teams for several days, even weeks, but in such a hectic period, every single day counts. Unfortunately, the Grove-based team is facing significant challenges, a situation shared by several other teams, demonstrating the complexity of these cars, the new regulations, and how—even with an early start to preparations—some teams still struggle to complete their projects on time.
Crash test failures and overweight cars: Williams already playing catch-up
James Vowles likely expected a different outcome for the first year of a new regulatory cycle. The former Mercedes Head of Strategy has worked tirelessly to revive a team that had sunk to the back of the grid. However, the start of the season will not be as hoped. The team has confirmed that they will carry out virtual testing at Grove, using the assembled car. Williams’ main obstacle in recent weeks has been failing one of the mandatory crash tests, which forced the engineers to revise the chassis and modify certain components. Additionally, due to these challenges, the FW48 will start the season with a notable weight disadvantage—a problem not unique to Williams, though other teams have fared much better.
Aston Martin: Barcelona tests at risk due to crash tests, weight, and more
Another team at risk of missing days of testing in Barcelona is Aston Martin. Nothing is confirmed yet, but at Silverstone they are facing issues that still cast doubt on their presence, leading to a direct postponement of their test schedule to tomorrow. Sources indicate that Aston Martin may not hit the track before Wednesday, or more likely Thursday, depending on whether they can fully resolve the problems with assembling the AMR26. This could leave them with only two effective testing days. The team will announce its plans for the week in the coming hours.
As previously reported, Adrian Newey has opted for a different approach than other teams, and some mechanical solutions were finalized at the last minute. Some choices, defined as “aggressive,” have led Aston Martin to fail multiple chassis crash tests, further delaying progress. The winter period has not been without complications. Arriving at the final stages with the first car of a new regulatory cycle is, in fact, partly characteristic of the former Milton Keynes genius, who often delivers in extremis.
Another similarity with the past is the excess weight the AMR26 will carry, at least for the first six races. Aston Martin is expected to start the season with a double-digit weight surplus, similar to Red Bull. This represents a significant disadvantage compared to Alpine, which will already be close to the minimum weight limit, potentially resulting in a multi-tenths gap. It is a race against time in a season that will not end in Melbourne alone.
Ferrari behind the scenes: SF-26 also delayed by crash tests
The challenges with crash tests were not limited to Williams or Aston Martin. Ferrari also experienced delays due to a crash test, having to conduct a follow-up test in early January after the holiday break, which passed successfully. This partly explains the chaotic preparation compared to the usual routine and the delayed schedule for the SF-26. The team mounted the car at the last possible moment for the Fiorano debut, with mechanics working intensively, and until just a few hours before the SF-26 presentation, nothing was guaranteed. However, Frédéric Vasseur’s team responded well to the unforeseen obstacles, achieving final chassis homologation, assembling the car, and completing the first 15 kilometers without major issues. From tomorrow (Tuesday for Ferrari), serious track activity will begin in preparation for the upcoming season.
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