F1: Williams FW48 Makes Track Debut at Silverstone Shakedown
Williams debuts the FW48 at Silverstone, with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon completing a key shakedown after missing the 2026 F1 Barcelona Shakedown.
By Divyam Dubey
Williams has put the FW48 on track for the first time, with its 2026 F1 car completing a shakedown at Silverstone and getting the season build-up underway. The Grove outfit used a filming day to finally give the new car its first laps after missing the earlier Barcelona running. Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz shared time in the cockpit as the team worked through early system checks, installation runs, and data collection. For Williams, this Silverstone shakedown was all about getting mileage on the FW48 and making sure everything worked before pre-season testing.
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After weeks of simulator work and factory prep, the car is now running, and attention turns to building momentum ahead of the Bahrain tests and the 2026 Formula 1 season opener.
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The FW48 reached Silverstone later than planned following build delays that ruled Williams out of the Barcelona session. That made this first outing more important, even within filming day limits. Engineers focused on reliability runs and basic checks to confirm that all systems operated as expected before the full test schedule starts.
F1: 2026 Williams' Driver Lineup
Alex Albon stays with Williams after leading its 2025 campaign. He scored the majority of the team’s points last season and delivered regular top-ten finishes. His role continues into 2026, giving the team continuity as it begins work with the FW48 on track.
Carlos Sainz has started his Williams stint after moving from Ferrari at the end of 2025. He comes in after a season that included podiums and regular points finishes. The Silverstone run marked his first laps in the FW48 and his first proper track time with the team ahead of testing.
F1: Bahrain Pre-Season Test
The Silverstone running took place under filming day rules, with restricted mileage and control tyres in use. Williams ran an interim test livery and will head to Bahrain for another filming day before pre-season testing begins. The team plans to build mileage quickly as it prepares for the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season in March.
