In a surprising turn of events, Carlos Sainz has shown his unwavering support for the Williams team after it was announced that they would not participate in the upcoming shakedown test in Barcelona for the F1 2026 season. Despite enjoying a strong debut year with Williams in 2025, Sainz is now faced with a delay as the team cited "setbacks in the FW48 program" for their absence at this crucial testing event.
The shakedown test, which spans five days, allows teams to run one car for a maximum of three days. This year’s testing will be conducted privately at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Although teams like McLaren and Ferrari are expected to miss the first day of testing, most are anticipated to utilize three of the available days. In stark contrast, Williams confirmed it would not partake at all, although they recently celebrated a milestone by successfully firing up their car for the first time on social media.
Carlos Sainz, who made the move to Williams in hopes of capitalizing on the team's potential in the 2026 season, took to his Instagram story to express his commitment, stating: "We are dedicated to pushing full throttle! I can't wait to hit the track soon!"
Williams explained that the decision to sit out the Barcelona shakedown arose from delays in their preparations aimed at achieving maximum performance ahead of the first of two pre-season tests scheduled in Bahrain this February. As an alternative to participating in the shakedown, the team outlined plans to conduct a series of tests, including a Virtual Test Track (VTT) program next week, all designed to prepare for both the initial official test in Bahrain and the season opener in Melbourne.
In their statement, Williams expressed eagerness for the upcoming weeks on the track and extended gratitude to their fans for their continued support, emphasizing that there is much to anticipate together in the 2026 season.
Are you curious about how these developments might impact Williams' performance this year? What do you think about their decision to skip the shakedown? Share your thoughts below!
