Williams F1 Team Completes Silverstone Shakedown as Albon and Sainz Take FW48 on Track

Silverstone, UK — Atlassian Williams F1 Team completed a key milestone in its pre-season preparations as Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz took the FW48 out on track during a promotional filming day at Silverstone. The Northamptonshire circuit run formed part of the team’s build-up to the 2026 Formula 1 season, providing valuable early data ahead of official pre-season testing.

The Silverstone outing offered fans their first on-track look at Williams’ fan-designed livery, selected through the team’s ‘Your Livery’ initiative. More than 55,000 fans from 162 countries voted across six design concepts during a seven-day window in December, reinforcing Williams’ commitment to fan engagement through digital innovation and live experiences.

The shakedown also marked the first track appearance for several new partners joining Atlassian Williams F1 Team ahead of the new season. Global brands including Barclays, Claude, BNY, Wilkinson Sword and Nuveen made their on-car debut, adding to the team’s expanding commercial portfolio as it continues its long-term transformation.

The Silverstone run followed the team’s official unveiling of its 2026 race livery just a day earlier, when the design was presented to the 1,200-strong workforce at the Grove headquarters. Engineers, mechanics and staff have invested tens of thousands of hours preparing the FW48 for its first on-track appearance.

Williams will continue its pre-season programme with a second promotional filming day in Bahrain on February 10, ahead of the first official Formula 1 pre-season test, which begins the following day.

James Vowles, Team Principal of Atlassian Williams F1 Team, described the Silverstone outing as a proud and significant moment, noting that the team gathered important feedback from both drivers while identifying minor areas to refine before Bahrain.

Alex Albon said the shakedown was largely smooth and welcomed the chance to finally drive the FW48, adding that the team’s full focus now shifts to analysing data and preparing for the Bahrain test. Carlos Sainz echoed those sentiments, calling the first laps in the new car a special moment for the entire team and expressing confidence ahead of more extensive running in Bahrain.

With its initial shakedown complete, Atlassian Williams F1 Team now turns its attention to Bahrain, where the FW48 will undergo its first full test ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.