Image: from Carlos Sainz News X@CSainzNews_
By Open Chronicle Staff | February 4, 2026
SILVERSTONE, UK — Williams Racing has finally broken cover with its 2026 Formula 1 challenger, the FW48, conducting a successful shakedown at the Silverstone Circuit on Wednesday.
The outing comes as a significant relief for the Grove-based team, which was forced to miss the collective testing sessions in Barcelona last week. The delay was attributed to a series of setbacks, including schedule overruns, issues with the car’s weight, and an initial failure to pass the FIA’s mandatory crash tests.
Having now secured the governing body’s approval and finalized the build, the team utilized one of its two permitted “filming days” to put the first miles on the new chassis. While the team did not release specific technical data, Formula 1 regulations limit such shakedowns to 200km using promotional tires.
Mas videos del Williams FW48 en Silverstone en su shakedown de hoy
🎥Cautions Out pic.twitter.com/esJoPj2uL0
— Facundo 🗣️ (@FacuMendez_) February 4, 2026
“A new era comes to life,” the team posted on social media alongside images of the car on track. “The FW48 completed a shakedown at Silverstone today.”
The milestone follows the official unveiling of the car’s livery on Tuesday. Williams enters the 2026 season, marked by major technical and engine regulation changes—looking to build on a strong 2025 campaign where they secured an impressive fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship.
📷 A Williams completou esta quarta-feira o shakedown do FW48 de 2026 em Silverstone. pic.twitter.com/9Jlu7LWHJD
— F1PT (@F1PToficial) February 4, 2026
With the Silverstone run completed, the team is now set to join the rest of the grid in Sakhir for the official pre-season testing in Bahrain, scheduled for February 11–13. The upcoming sessions will be crucial for Williams to recover lost time and validate the performance of the FW48 before the season opener.