Williams completed its first filming day with the FW48 at Silverstone today, but the 2026 car will return to the track before the official pre-season tests. After covering the initial kilometers, the team will analyze the collected data before flying to Bahrain. At Sakhir, Williams will conduct the second filming day with the FW48, ensuring all filming days available for the 2026 season are used.
Missing the collective shakedown in Barcelona has certainly impacted the team, which now needs to catch up with its competitors. This new generation of cars has been described as three times more complex by Team Principal James Vowles, which explains the significant delays encountered during the project.
Nevertheless, the car finally hit the track, allowing Williams to begin proper preparations for the season. Despite a few minor issues, the FW48 completed all 200 kilometers planned for the session.
Williams returns to the track ahead of Bahrain tests
With pre-season testing in Bahrain set to start on February 11, Williams organized a filming day at the Sakhir circuit the day before. This allowed the team to use both filming days allocated for the entire 2026 season. The urgency is linked to the team’s delayed preparations ahead of the first Grand Prix in Melbourne.
The FW48 completed its first laps, with James Vowles admitting that some issues were identified and will be addressed before the car’s next outing: “It was a crucial day for us, and it is always a proud moment to see a new car on track for the first time,” the Team Principal said.
“The team pulled together despite the pressure of the situation and brought a car to the track today for a promotional filming day here at Silverstone. We were able to learn more about our package as we prepare for Bahrain next week. Carlos and Alex were able to provide useful feedback to guide us, while also identifying some small issues to fix before then. The push isn’t over, this is just the beginning, and there’s still a lot ahead of us.”
The FW48 ran at Silverstone in the livery chosen by fans, which was originally intended for Barcelona. The official livery, however, was unveiled yesterday through images released by the team.
The decision to utilize both filming days before the start of official testing highlights the urgency within the Williams garage to stabilize the FW48 after its initial development delays. By getting Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz back in the cockpit in Bahrain, the team aims to iron out the “small issues” identified during the Silverstone debut. These extra miles are vital for ensuring that the complex 2026 package is reliable enough to maximize the limited pre-season testing window and build momentum toward the first Grand Prix of the year.
Leave a Reply