Another F1 team are now struggling to pass 2026 FIA crash tests after Williams

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Williams confirmed on Friday that they would miss the first pre-season test of 2026 in Barcelona. In a statement, the team acknowledged that there had been ‘delays in the programme’.

They plan to carry out virtual running next week instead and still expect to feature at the second test in Bahrain, which starts on 11 February.

The behind-closed-doors Barcelona shakedown takes place over five days, but teams are only allowed to run on three of those. Given the scale of the regulation changes for 2026, pre-season mileage is more important than ever.

What impact will Williams missing the Barcelona shakedown test have on their 2026 season?

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There are rumours that Williams had difficulty passing the FIA crash tests, which may be the main reason they opted to sit out the test.

Aston Martin are having problems before F1 testing, just like Williams

According to The Times, ‘at least one other team’ is in danger of joining Williams on the sidelines. That might be Aston Martin.

The Telegraph report that Lawrence Stroll’s squad are having ‘similar issues’ in the FIA crash tests. Aston Martin are hoping to debut their Honda engine in Spain.

Is this a brutal truth or unfair criticism from Lance Stroll?

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Honda held a launch event for their new power unit earlier this week, but Aston Martin will be the last team to formally unveil their 2026 car (9 February).

There are suggestions that Honda have run out of time to get their engine up to standard, though this is clearly a separate issue to the crash tests.

Still, team principal Adrian Newey is reportedly prioritising 2027 already, and Aston Martin’s disrupted winter may explain why.

Williams could have made it to Barcelona but James Vowles ‘deliberately chose’ not to

German publication Bild say that Williams could have participated in the Barcelona shakedown, presumably by making the changes necessary to pass the crash tests.

However, James Vowles ‘deliberately chose not to’ because he didn’t want to compromise the ‘quality’ of their running. He was also wary that an accident could leave them short on parts.

Williams finished fifth in last year’s world championship, putting them at the front of the midfield, and were optimistic of closing the gap to the top four. Vowles’ call has left many staff at the factory with ‘long faces’.

This setback won’t necessarily define Williams’ season; they still have plenty of time to recover. But after Vowles promised there would be ‘no delays’, Friday’s announcement hurts the team’s image.