Vowles states that Williams intends to be the first team to unveil their car for 2026.
"We will likely be the first team to begin that early."
Williams is striving to complete its 2026 Formula 1 car well ahead of its competitors as the race against time heats up in preparation for the new rules era. While the first group test is set for late January in Barcelona, team principal James Vowles states that Williams aims to have the entire car ready at the very beginning of the month. "The complete car needs to be available for the VTT test bench at the start of January," Vowles informed Auto Motor und Sport. "We will likely be the first team to start that early. We don’t want to be caught off guard again, as we were in 2023."
The VTT, or Virtual Test Track, enables Williams to test the full car - including engine, gearbox, and suspension - in simulated race conditions on a static setup, ensuring reliability before any real track activity commences. Vowles mentioned that the first monocoques for Williams are already complete, and parts production for the initial races is currently in full swing. "After the VTT tests, we will likely conduct another filming day before the three test days in Barcelona start," he added.
This strategy represents a clear departure from Williams’ recent history, where late builds often hindered early-season performance. Vowles acknowledges a potential trade-off. "By finishing a few weeks earlier, we might sacrifice a bit of performance, but we ensure that there are no delays in the program. That’s crucial for us at Williams right now," he stated.
In the meantime, following last week’s announcements about Audi and Alpine progressing ahead of the main test, Grada3 reports that Audi’s initial runs in January will not utilize the final version of its 2026 power unit, with further developments expected before the season-opening race in Melbourne.
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