Cadillac will introduce important brake system upgrades at the Hungarian Grand Prix as the Formula 1 newcomer seeks to prevent a repeat of the overheating problems that forced both Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez to retire in Austria.
The intensive learning phase planned for the beginning of Cadillac’s inaugural Formula 1 season has now reached its conclusion, allowing the team to place greater emphasis on performance. However, the American operation is still encountering the natural and entirely understandable difficulties involved in establishing a new team at the highest level of motorsport.
Cadillac brake upgrade responds to Austrian failures
The most serious setback arrived at the Red Bull Ring, which hosted the Austrian Grand Prix several weeks ago. Both MAC-26 cars were effectively out of contention after only five laps, with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez retiring two laps apart because of the same failure.
The brakes had overheated severely, causing the front brake assemblies on both black-and-white cars to catch fire. The double retirement highlighted a weakness that Cadillac could not afford to leave unresolved, particularly before visiting another circuit expected to place significant demands on the braking system.
Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps did not have layouts that exposed the American cars to the same level of risk. Their long straights and high average speeds provided effective cooling for the brakes, allowing Cadillac to avoid introducing substantial interim modifications purely to ensure that Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez could finish the races without suffering another brake-related retirement.
Those characteristics also allowed the drivers and team to concentrate on other areas while the factory completed the new components scheduled to make their debut at the Hungaroring. The upgrades will arrive in Budapest in just under a week, where fans can consult the complete 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix timetable.
Valtteri Bottas confirms component-quality issue has been resolved
Alongside its brake difficulties, Cadillac has addressed another problem that affected the opening part of its first season: the quality of certain components, which had become a tangible concern in specific cases.
“The problem relating to component quality has now been definitively resolved,” Valtteri Bottas confirmed at Spa-Francorchamps.
“We had to learn some things the hard way. Some components on the car failed, and we also experienced brake cooling problems. We learned a great deal from those issues. We will have further updates in this area for Budapest. We have learned some costly lessons, but we have certainly improved.”
Valtteri Bottas emphasised that Cadillac already understands the consequences of travelling to the Hungaroring without making the necessary changes.
“We know exactly that braking would be a problem in Budapest if we did not introduce updates. That is precisely why we are bringing them.”
Hungarian GP updates may be among Cadillac’s last of 2026
The Hungarian package could, however, be among the final significant developments introduced for the MAC-26 this season. According to Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac will soon need to devote a substantial share of its attention and resources to the following year’s car.
That shift could effectively freeze development of the MAC-26 or, at best, lead to a significant reduction in the rate at which new parts reach the track. Cadillac’s progress can also be assessed through the latest Formula 1 driver standings as its debut campaign continues.
“After Budapest, however, I still do not know how many more developments will arrive for this car, because at some point we will inevitably have to focus our efforts on next year’s car,” the former Mercedes driver concluded.
The Hungarian Grand Prix will therefore represent more than an attempt to avoid another reliability failure. It will provide an important test of how effectively Cadillac has applied the lessons from Austria before its technical priorities begin shifting towards its second Formula 1 car.
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