P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The Barcelona private shakedown is a milestone for all the F1 teams that Williams will miss owing to having failed the FIA crash tests.
The Barcelona private shakedown is a crucial milestone for all Formula 1 teams, but Williams will not participate due to reportedly failing the FIA crash tests.
The 2026 F1 cars hit the track for the first official outing during Day 1 of the private shakedown at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya earlier today.
This is the first of three pre-season events mandated in the regulations, allowing all 10 teams to gather essential data for their packages tailored to the latest era of the sport.
Williams opted out of the shakedown and will join during the Bahrain International Circuit testing, likely due to failing the mandatory FIA crash tests, potentially due to weight restrictions.
In lieu of the physical track test, Williams will conduct a Virtual Test Track session to simulate real track conditions.
The absence in Barcelona could put Williams at a disadvantage in understanding their package compared to their competitors.
Despite not participating in the shakedown, Williams may benefit from the wet conditions expected during the testing week.
