Cadillac endured another difficult Formula 1 weekend at Sepang, with Sergio Perez finishing 19th and Valtteri Bottas retiring as the American team remained the only constructor yet to score a point in the 2026 season.
The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia gave Cadillac its first experience of a wet Formula 1 race during its debut campaign, but the unpredictable conditions failed to provide the opportunity the team had hoped for. Both drivers started on slick tyres after heavy rain before the race, a decision that quickly proved problematic.
Cadillac slick tyre gamble fails at Sepang
A violent downpour shortly before the start forced the race to be delayed and created considerable uncertainty over which tyre compound would be best when the cars were finally released.
Cadillac chose to put both Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez on slick tyres, expecting the Sepang circuit to dry relatively quickly. Instead, the conditions remained difficult and the decision proved particularly costly for Valtteri Bottas, who failed to finish the race.
The unpredictable weather was one of the defining features of the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix weekend at Sepang, with several teams facing a difficult choice between dry-weather tyres and Intermediates.
Sergio Perez recovers after switching to Intermediates
Sergio Perez was able to continue after returning to the pits, but the Mexican could finish no higher than 19th. Cadillac therefore once again left a Grand Prix without points.
“It was a very tough race,” Sergio Perez said. “We thought the track would dry much faster, but from the very first lap I realised how difficult it was to keep the car on the track.”
Cadillac reacted by bringing Sergio Perez into the pits and switching him to Intermediate tyres. The car immediately became more competitive.
“We decided to come into the pits and, on the Intermediate tyres, the car proved quite competitive, allowing us to reduce the gap to those ahead of us.”
“We managed to build a good gap over those behind, so at that point the strategy seemed to be working well.”
Safety Car wipes out Cadillac’s advantage
Any progress Cadillac had made was then undone by a Safety Car intervention, which closed the field back up and removed the margin Sergio Perez had established.
“Unfortunately, the Safety Car bunched the field back together, wiping out the advantage we had built and changing the course of the race.”
“It was a very demanding race and, at times, the car wasn’t easy to manage.”
The race was further complicated by software-related problems that affected several cars during the early stages, another unusual element of the chaotic Sepang event.
“Some cars had software-related problems in the early stages, which affected the race. I know the FIA is looking into the matter carefully. I’m sure we’ll learn from it for the next races.”
Cadillac still waiting for first Formula 1 points
The result means Cadillac remains the only team on the 2026 Formula 1 grid yet to score a championship point.
Sepang appeared to offer the type of unpredictable race in which the newcomer might have been able to capitalise on changing conditions, but the early slick tyre choice, Valtteri Bottas’ retirement and the Safety Car interruption ultimately left Cadillac with another difficult result.
The American team will now move on to the next round of the 2026 Formula 1 season still searching for the breakthrough that would finally put its first points on the board.
