As already known, the Grove-based outfit is the only one of the 11 teams not to take part in the Barcelona test — a decision aimed at sacrificing some early track time in order to arrive fully prepared for the second test session in Bahrain, the penultimate stop before the championship kicks off in Australia.

While the rest of the grid was busy wrapping up the final day of running in Barcelona, Williams instead shared a series of images from Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon’s seat-fitting sessions ahead of the FW48’s on-track debut.

For the Spaniard, it will mark his second season with the team following a surprisingly strong 2025 campaign which, after an initially difficult spell, ended on a clear upward trajectory with two podium finishes to his name.

Albon, meanwhile, can now be considered a veteran within the squad, having joined the British team back in 2022 and consistently delivering solid performances and dependable results year after year.

When asked how the drivers reacted to the decision not to take part in the Barcelona test, Williams team principal James Vowles said both Sainz and Albon are fully aware of the objectives behind the choice and understand the team’s push to maximise its long-term gains.

Speaking to a select group of media, including GPblog, Vowles explained: “They [the drivers] stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me. They're clearly - as I am - disappointed. They're racing drivers; they want to be out there testing the car, and whilst they're in our driver in-loop simulator in tandem now to increase that programme, it isn't the same.”

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