F1, Austrian GP – Cadillac: The upgrade package is failing to deliver so far
Cadillac endured a frustrating opening day at the Austrian Grand Prix, with a series of reliability problems preventing the American team from properly evaluating its extensive new upgrade package at the Red Bull Ring.
Arriving in Spielberg with one of its biggest development packages of the 2026 Formula 1 season, Cadillac hoped to move closer to the midfield and begin challenging more established rivals. The first indications suggested the updates had improved the car’s performance, but a succession of technical issues ultimately overshadowed Friday’s programme and significantly reduced the amount of useful data collected.
Cadillac’s MAC-26 plagued by reliability issues
Across the two one-hour practice sessions, both drivers suffered major interruptions. During FP1, an electrical failure forced Sergio Pérez to stop on track, bringing out a red flag towards the end of the session.
The problems continued in FP2, where the Mexican driver completed only two laps before another issue forced him back into the garage. Valtteri Bottas also encountered difficulties during the afternoon after an overheating problem obliged him to return slowly to the pits, with sparks visible underneath the car.
Reflecting on the difficult day, Sergio Pérez said:
“It was a bit unfortunate. I want to start with the positives, which are that we seem to be much closer. Valtteri had a good session this morning, and you could already see some encouraging signs. Unfortunately, my running was very limited.”
The Mexican driver admitted the team was still searching for the source of the problem: “We don’t really know what the issue is on my side, so we’re going to replace virtually everything on the electrical side to make sure we have a clean day tomorrow because we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”
Sergio Pérez completed just 14 laps during FP1 and only two laps in FP2.
Valtteri Bottas also saw his afternoon heavily compromised by the overheating issue, managing only six laps before returning to the garage. Nevertheless, his morning session had provided encouraging indications about the potential of Cadillac’s updated package.
Nick Chester remains optimistic
Cadillac Chief Technical Officer Nick Chester assessed the team’s difficult Friday with a mixture of realism and optimism.
“It was a tough day, but we’ve brought a major upgrade package for both cars. The data we collected in FP1 shows that we’ve genuinely taken a step forward, so from a performance perspective that’s encouraging. We still have a lot of work to do to solve the other issues, but that’s all part of Formula 1.”
Nick Chester also highlighted the team’s growing competitiveness despite the reliability setbacks: “We’ve come very close to reaching Q2 several times already this season. We were only six hundredths away in Monaco and also very close in Miami. I think we’ve got a good opportunity this weekend, but we need a clean and trouble-free FP3.”
Despite Friday’s reliability problems, Cadillac remains confident that once the technical issues are resolved, the upgraded MAC-26 will finally be able to demonstrate its true potential. A smooth final practice session will now be crucial if the American team wants to maximise its chances of reaching Q2 and challenging the midfield during qualifying.
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