Williams team principal James Vowles shared “it was painful” to miss the F1 Barcelona shakedown. However, the Grove-based team is ready for the first official test in Bahrain.
On Friday, January 23, Vowles shared that Williams would miss the closed-door F1 Barcelona shakedown test due to development delays. However, the team boss shared on Wednesday that missing Barcelona “wasn’t our original plan.” But, Vowles is still determined “to push the limits of performance under these new regulations.”
Vowles opened up: “Last week we took the decision to not attend the Shakedown Test in Barcelona following delays to our car programme. This clearly wasn’t our original plan. It was painful and it isn’t a situation we want to be in again. We had intended to be on track in Barcelona. It is a result of our determination to push the limits of performance under these new regulations for 2026.”
Pushing the limit
Vowles joined Williams in early 2023 to enhance the team. Thanks to the new regulations, the Briton can now push “the boundaries” with the FW48. To make sure the car meets Vowles’s expectations, the FW48 needed more time during the F1 shakedown.
“We are transforming fast but this shows, and my words have already said over the last few years, we’re not yet at a championship level and we still have a tremendous amount of work to do. Only by pushing the boundaries can you find the pain points and put them right. Which is exactly what we’re doing.
“I’m not here to produce a car that’s well and truly within the tolerances. We have to push ourselves as a business to breaking point and we’ve done so. It’s painful but it means we will never be here again. I am confident that our decision not to attend Barcelona was the right one in the circumstances.”
Vowles ready for the FW48 to hit the track
Vowles reported that they resolved the issues that were preventing the team from conducting testing in Barcelona. Additionally, the team boss reassured everyone that the FW48’s chassis had no problems as they approached the shakedown.
“To explain the situation, we had a number of issues which are now resolved. I’m pleased to say that we have passed all necessary tests and for the avoidance of doubt there has never been a problem with our chassis tests which were passed many weeks ago.“
Although Williams is not testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, they are conducting internal testing. Specifically, the team is conducting a virtual track test (VTT) with the FW48.
“We are ready to run the official test in Bahrain and will carry out a promotional filming day ahead of it. In the meantime, we are carrying out an alternative test programme here in the UK including what we call a VTT, a virtual track test.”
More testing to come
A VTT is a type of simulation that tests the car’s various components. However, physical track tests provide a better picture of the car’s performance. Nonetheless, the FW48 is ready to hit the track in Bahrain with the rest of the field.
“The car is on there now, it’s been there a few days and it will be on there for a few more days. It’s a physical car, the real car, the engine, the gearbox are all bolted to it and it’s put through its paces on a rig and provides valuable engineering data. The car is there as we speak and will continue running tomorrow. We cannot wait to get on track.”
