Williams, shakedown at Silverstone: these are the first km of 2026

Here is the Williams Williams finally takes to the track. The FW48 covered the first kilometers of the 2026 season today with a shakedown on the Silverstone track. This is a long-awaited step, after a winter marked by delays and difficulties in the development of the new single-seater. The work carried out today represents the starting point of the 2026 project, after the forced absence from the Barcelona shakedown which had fueled doubts about the progress of the works at Grove. The car had the livery it should have used at Montmeló. The objective of the day was naturally not performance, but the verification of the car’s systems and procedures, as well as the collection of the first basic indications in the 15 km that the FIA ​​regulations allow to travel on these days. It is clear, however, that Williams’ road is uphill regardless. The delays in the development of the FW48 weigh heavily and will force the team to maximize every session available in the Bahrain tests, which team principal James Vowles has framed as fundamental for the team’s fortunes.