Williams is stepping up its 2026 program as the FW48 took to the track at Silverstone today for a shakedown session. After missing the Barcelona tests for previously reported reasons, the Grove-based team is aiming to catch up with its rivals. The FW48’s appearance at Silverstone marks an important step in preparing for the upcoming official pre-season tests in Bahrain.
The day after unveiling their 2026 car, James Vowles’ team accelerated development to ensure the FW48 would be ready for testing without major concerns. On the British circuit, the car appeared in the livery initially chosen for the closed-door Barcelona test session. For that occasion, Williams had even asked fans to vote on an alternative design from the options proposed.
The official Williams account shared a photo showing Alexander Albon at the wheel of the 2026 car during the Silverstone shakedown. “A new era comes to life. Today the FW48 completed a shakedown at Silverstone,” read the caption accompanying the image of the Thai driver’s car, which you can view at the end of the article.
Why Williams skipped the Barcelona tests
The Grove team missed the Barcelona testing session, citing delays in the development of the FW48. There had been speculation about weight issues, which could have prevented the car from passing the mandatory crash test. In reality, team principal James Vowles clarified that these rumors were unfounded.
While rival teams were testing on track in Barcelona, Williams focused on virtual simulations at their Grove base. During this time, drivers Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon continued to work extensively in the simulator, preparing for the challenges of the new car and the upcoming season.
The successful shakedown of the FW48 at Silverstone marks the definitive start of the Williams 2026 era, signaling that the team is ready to overcome its early development hurdles. By getting Alexander Albon behind the wheel before the official trip to Sakhir, Williams has secured essential installation data that will be critical for their Bahrain testing program. This milestone shows that despite the missed sessions in Barcelona, the team remains fully committed to its upward trajectory and is determined to provide its drivers with a competitive platform for the new season.
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