Cadillac makes steady progress toward the F1 summit: Valtteri Bottas satisfied after Barcelona. Cadillac completes its first Barcelona F1 tests with encouraging signs.

Cadillac completed its pre-season testing programme in Barcelona with a total of 164 laps completed, a respectable starting point for a team that is still in its infancy within the world of Formula 1. The tally is inevitably well below the 500 laps completed by Mercedes and the 437 recorded by Ferrari – something that was fully expected and part of the natural order of things – but it is significantly more substantial than the 66 laps accumulated by Aston Martin-Honda.

At the end of the test week, held in a Catalonia marked by highly variable weather conditions, Valtteri Bottas expressed his satisfaction with the work carried out by the American team, underlining the importance of this early phase of the project.

F1 – Cadillac, Valtteri Bottas’ first impressions

“It’s been a fundamental week for the team, and for me it’s the first time driving for Cadillac. At the moment, this is the problem-solving phase for the team, as it’s a new car and the first time we’ve really been able to drive it properly after the shakedown at Silverstone. This week has been very valuable and important.”

“We still have a lot of work to do, however with every lap we are improving, becoming more united as a team and understanding the car better. I’m proud of everyone for working so hard to get us running in Barcelona. We’ll use next week to make the most of everything we’ve learned so far in preparation for Bahrain. I can’t wait to get back in the car soon!” added the driver from Nastola.

Cadillac F1: focus on the launch and Bahrain

These are the words that the Finnish driver shared through his social media channels, clearly highlighting how the priority at this stage is understanding the single-seater and building cohesion within a completely new team.

The 164 laps completed, equivalent to just under 800 kilometres, represent a foundation from which the team can continue to develop the car ahead of its seasonal debut in Bahrain. In the meantime, Cadillac is set to unveil its definitive livery in the coming days during a major event held alongside the Super Bowl. After that, attention will turn back to the track for further evaluation during the Bahrain tests, where the team will aim to put into practice everything learned so far.

Valtteri Bottas’ optimistic outlook after Cadillac’s debut in Barcelona suggests that the American team has successfully cleared its first major technical hurdle: establishing a reliable baseline in a new era of Formula 1. By out-pacing more established names in terms of mileage and focusing on internal cohesion, Cadillac is demonstrating a methodical approach that prioritizes long-term stability over short-term headlines. This “problem-solving phase,” as the Finn calls it, is the essential groundwork required to turn an ambitious entry into a competitive force. As the team prepares for its high-profile Super Bowl reveal and the subsequent heat of Bahrain, the 164 laps completed in Spain provide the necessary data to bridge the gap between a new project and a professional racing operation, setting the stage for a debut season focused on constant evolution and growth.