The Williams FW48 took to the Silverstone circuit for its initial on-track experience, with drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon sharing their thoughts on the day. Sainz has commended the team for their "remarkable effort" after they conducted a shakedown of their F1 2026 car on Wednesday.
Just a day after unveiling their fresh livery for the upcoming season, Williams was able to execute this important shakedown with the FW48—this event marked the car's debut on the track, especially significant as Williams was the only team not to participate in last week's collective shakedown in Barcelona.
During this brief outing, Sainz and Albon divided driving responsibilities at Silverstone. Williams plans to conduct another filming day in Bahrain on February 10, just one day before the commencement of the second pre-season test.
In a statement released to PlanetF1.com, Sainz expressed his excitement and gratitude towards the team's hard work that made it possible to get the car out on the track. He stated, "We just had our first laps in the FW48! It’s always an exciting and special day for the drivers, mechanics, and the entire team. Everyone has put in a tremendous effort to make today happen."
He further described the conditions, saying, "It was a typical winter day at Silverstone, so our focus was on completing our initial laps and adhering to our shakedown plan. We are now getting ready to head to Bahrain in a few days, where we will delve into more comprehensive running plans. I’m really looking forward to it!"
Albon added his thoughts, stating, "That’s the shakedown completed! Of course, there are some data points to analyze and improvements to consider, but overall it was a fairly smooth day. Given the time of year, we were fortunate to experience decent weather at Silverstone, and I’m thrilled to finally be behind the wheel of the FW48. Our complete attention is now on Bahrain, as we review the data and prepare for the season ahead."
Team principal James Vowles also shared his perspective on this milestone occasion. He remarked, "Today was a significant moment for us, and it fills me with pride to see a new car on the track for the first time. The team came together brilliantly under pressure and successfully delivered a car for this promotional filming day at Silverstone. We gained valuable insights into our package in preparation for Bahrain next week, and both Carlos and Alex provided constructive feedback while identifying minor issues that we can address before then. This effort is far from over; this is merely the beginning, and we have much more ahead of us."
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