Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas make up a veteran line-up at Cadillac F1 Team, who continue preparations for their debut this season. With several victories and dozens of podiums between them, this experienced duo are working to make Cadillac’s first campaign as smooth as possible.
On paper, the task is immensely challenging for the US squad. The Barcelona shakedown, where they completed among the fewest laps, was an early reminder of this.
Despite this, Perez insists that Cadillac are capable of doing more than make up the numbers. The 36-year-old believes that his new team can finish ahead of some established names.
Perez optimistic about Cadillac’s potential
Much like teammate Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez managed to secure a seat for 2026 after missing out last season. In this sense, both drivers have spent the last twelve months looking forward to this year and the new regulations.
Under the leadership of team principal Graeme Lowdon, Cadillac have managed to complete a series of important milestones.
They were one of the first teams to conduct a Shakedown of their 2026 car, setting their first laps at the Silverstone circuit. A few days later, they participated in the first week of running at the Barcelona circuit.
Of course, these accomplishments are important for any team – and particularly for a debuting outfit. Given that even experienced teams like Williams and Aston Martin have experienced delays, Cadillac can be pleased to have successfully met key deadlines.
At the same time, there are still doubts about their chances of being competitive in 2026.
According to Sergio Perez, suggestions that Cadillac are destined to finish the season in last are a poor reflection of the team’s potential:
“We are definitely not having that mindset [about finishing last]. Not with the level of investment that has been put in place,” he told Reuters.
“We will definitely be very disappointed to finish last, we know we will not win the championship for sure. But we definitely want to make a lot of progress and beat a couple of teams.
“This is a team that has recruited people from basically all the teams that I’ve been with.
“I think this team, this structure, has the capacity to go a very long way in the sport. I think it’s going to become a very important team in the future of Formula 1.”
Crucial Bahrain tests
In only a few days, the teats will begin testing in Bahrain. Like any pre-season running, every lap will be crucial in preparation for the season opener in Australia.
The complexity and uncertainty of these 2026 cars, both on the aerodynamic and powertrains side, adds another dimension for personnel across the field to overcome.
At least on the engine front, Cadillac can rely on an experienced name in Ferrari. Although nothing is guaranteed, the Italian outfit is almost certain to produce an engine that is at least competitive – certainly more so than new manufacturers Audi and Red Bull.
This puts the pressure on Cadillac’s design team to develop their 2026 package to be as efficient as possible. This is obviously easier said than done, but it is important the US team are at least within striking range of the other 10 teams.
Having signed many personnel from other teams, Lowdon’s squad are looking to compete. To achieve this, they cannot afford to start 2026 several steps behind the pack.
Whilst engineering prowess remains the biggest contributor in this regard, Cadillac will also count on Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas to guide the team’s development and provide accurate and actionable feedback.
Main photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images (Red Bull Content Pool)