Williams team principal James Vowles has firmly rejected suggestions that the team's 2026 challenger is carrying excessive weight, maintaining that their absence from this week's Barcelona shakedown test stems from an ambitious development approach. TRENDING Stories Videos Your SayShould Aston Martin participate later this week as intended, Williams would stand alone as the only constructor absent from the opening test. The team principal confirmed that the FW48 has now successfully completed all required safety assessments. A Williams spokesman previously told the Telegraph that a nosebox test remained outstanding, but Vowles claimed this hurdle has since been cleared. He explained: "In terms of Barcelona, we could have made Barcelona testing, simple as that.