Williams completes first shakedown with 2026 F1 car at Silverstone

Williams successfully completed the first shakedown of its new FW48 car at a wet Silverstone, overcoming earlier production delays that caused it to miss the scheduled Barcelona run. Drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon provided initial feedback on the car, which features a new pull-rod suspension system, during the promotional filming day.

Why it matters:

The first on-track run is a critical milestone for any team, validating the car's basic systems and build quality before the intense pre-season testing begins. For Williams, executing this shakedown despite delays demonstrates the team's ability to recover under pressure and provides essential early data to refine the package ahead of the competitive season start.

The details:

• The shakedown took place at Silverstone under largely wet conditions, serving as a promotional filming day.
• The car ran in a special fan-voted testing livery, different from the official FW48 livery revealed earlier in the week.
• A key technical confirmation from the run is that Williams has adopted a pull-rod front suspension layout for 2026, aligning its design philosophy with Alpine and the new Cadillac team.
• Team Principal James Vowles praised the team's effort to "pull together under the pressure" to deliver the car for the session.
• Both drivers reported a generally smooth day, completing the shakedown plan and gathering initial data, while also identifying minor issues for the team to address before traveling to Bahrain.

What's next:

The team's full focus now shifts to the official pre-season tests in Bahrain.

• The first all-in test is scheduled for February 11-13, followed by a second test on February 18-20.
• These sessions will allow Sainz and Albon to dive into more complete run plans and for the team to gather critical performance data in representative conditions, setting the stage for the season opener.