Sergio Perez Begins Cadillac F1 Car Exploration for 2026

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Sergio Perez has confirmed that Cadillac has begun to “explore” its new Formula 1 car as the American manufacturer prepares for its competitive debut at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix.

Cadillac took part in the Barcelona shakedown earlier this week, running its new car with Perez and Valtteri Bottas sharing driving duties. The programme formed a crucial early phase of system validation and data gathering ahead of the team’s first full season in Formula 1.

The 2026 campaign marks the first time since 2016 that the Formula 1 grid expands beyond 10 teams, with Cadillac joining at the start of a new regulatory cycle. As a result, the team’s initial focus has been placed on understanding its baseline package rather than chasing outright performance.

Across the three-day shakedown in Barcelona, Cadillac completed a total of 164 laps, the second-lowest tally among the teams present, ahead of only Aston Martin. Despite the limited mileage, Perez described the week as a constructive step forward for the new entrant.

“We had a productive time in Barcelona, completing a good amount of running across the three days with valuable information gathered,” said Sergio Perez.

Perez explained that the primary objective at this stage is to establish a clear technical direction as Cadillac begins to define its development priorities.

“As a team, we’re starting to explore the car, the set-ups, and the directions we want to be taking,” he added.
“The point of this shakedown is to get more mileage to identify areas to improve that we can address before we go racing.”

Cadillac is scheduled to return to the track in just over a week’s time for the second pre-season test of the year in Bahrain. That session will provide the team with a critical opportunity to build on the data gathered in Barcelona and further refine its operational processes.

Perez expects the period leading up to the team’s first race to be particularly demanding, given the challenges of establishing competitiveness as a brand-new Formula 1 operation.

“There is a lot of work ahead of us, especially being a new team, but it’s an exciting time,” Perez said.
“I’m really enjoying being back in a team, and there’s a great spirit here to move forward.”

With limited preparation time before its debut in Australia, every lap completed by Cadillac carries strategic importance. Early exploration of the car, efficient learning, and operational stability are set to be decisive factors in shaping how competitive the team can be as it enters Formula 1 under the new regulations.