A newcomer to the paddock, Cadillac completed its first official Formula 1 kilometers in Barcelona. At the wheel of the new car, Sergio Pérez is undertaking a methodical discovery phase, just one month before the Australian Grand Prix, which is already shaping up to be a major test.
Sergio Pérez: Barcelona, first steps towards a new era
Present all week at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Cadillac shared the driving duties between Sergio Pérez et Valtteri BottasThe American team has completed 164 towers, a modest total only exceeding Aston Martin but logical for a structure that is starting out in a completely new regulatory cycle.
For Cadillac, the issue was not raw performance, but the accumulation of data and the validation of essential systems.
Pérez: "We're starting to understand the car.
Clear-headed but enthusiastic, Sergio Pérez He draws a positive initial conclusion. The Mexican speaks of in-depth work on the settings and the technical directions to prioritize, without rushing things.
According to PérezThese track days primarily allowed us to lay the foundations, to identify weaknesses and understand how the car reacts to adjustments, before any lap time ambitions.
The objective is clear: drive, analyze, correct, again and again.
The program is not slowing down. Cadillac will be back on track in Bahrain in just over a week for the second pre-season test. A key step to confirm the lessons learned in Barcelona and to ensure the reliability of a still-young package.
Pérez expects a period busy and demanding, reminding everyone that every kilometer counts more for a new team than for an already established structure.
Beyond the technical aspects, Pérez He emphasizes the internal atmosphere. He mentions a strong team spirit, essential for facing the challenges of entering F1, especially in a peloton that is wider for the first time since 2016.
Cadillac doesn't promise immediate miracles. But with an experienced pilot like Sergio PérezWith a pragmatic approach and a tight schedule leading up to Melbourne, the American team is charting its course step by step. In 2026, exploration is the key word; performance will come later.
