Williams set to also miss second day of Barcelona F1 test
The Williams Formula 1 team expects to skip the entire second day of pre-season testing and not start running until Wednesday “at the earliest”.
Williams is racing to finish the build of its FW42 and had to cancel a planned pre-test shakedown, before announcing last weekend it would miss the opening day of testing.
The car was still being finished back at the team’s Grove headquarters on Monday morning.
That led to doubts Williams would be able to get the car to Barcelona in time to belatedly start testing on Tuesday morning as hoped.
Deputy team principal Claire Williams has now said the team does not expect it will be able to run on track before Wednesday.
“It is looking more likely than not that we will now not be in a position to run on track until Wednesday at the earliest,” she said.
“This is obviously extremely disappointing, but it is unfortunately the situation we are in.
“We will be getting the FW42 on track as soon as we are able.”
The news means Williams is poised to miss at least half of the first test and 25% of the total amount of pre-season track time.
It is an early blow in its bid to recover from a bad 2018 season in which it fell to last in the constructors’ championship.
UPDATE: Williams issued a revised driver run plan on Monday afternoon, with its two race drivers Robert Kubica and George Russell set to share duties on both Wednesday and Thursday.
Russell will give the FW42 its first run on Wednesday morning before handing over to Kubica in the afternoon, with the Polish driver starting off on Thursday before handing back to Russell.
Reserve driver Nicholas Latifi, who was originally scheduled to drive on Tuesday and part of Wednesday, will now not get any running at all this week.
“Unfortunately, because the team has had to miss the first two days of testing, my planned sessions in the car have had to be cancelled,” Latifi commented.
“It’s a decision that gives Robert and George the maximum amount of time at the wheel before Melbourne. And that has to be the priority right now. It’s disappointing for me of course, but I’m happy to help the team push forward."
Share Or Save This Story
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
James Vowles reveals huge Toto Wolff role in his rise to Williams team principal
Brutal Williams verdict delivered: 'Like talking about a special holiday and missing the flight'
Jacques Villeneuve opens up on Damon Hill reality check at Williams
Winners and losers from the IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach
Jacky Ickx: If 2026 F1 rules grow audiences "that’s fine, it’s all that matters”
Comparing top Formula 1 drivers to NBA stars
IndyCar Officiating confirms Scot Elkins as Managing Director of Officiating
How to make F1's 2026 rules simpler - and why Christian Horner was half-right
The big Stefano Domenicali interview – on the 2026 rules, Max Verstappen and F1’s future
Are F1's technical changes for Miami enough to ease 2026 concerns?
Why this quintessential late-1970s F1 car stands out in the history of the Tyrrell team
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments