Cadillac is aiming for a significant milestone at the Monaco Grand Prix, with Sergio Perez believing the American team has a genuine chance of reaching Q2 for the first time since entering Formula 1.
Competing in its debut F1 season, Cadillac has spent much of the year battling near the back of the field, often finding itself in direct competition with Aston Martin. However, a steady stream of updates has gradually helped the team close the gap to the midfield, giving its drivers more reason for optimism heading into one of the most demanding qualifying sessions of the season.
During Friday’s second free practice session, Sergio Perez finished just over three tenths of a second away from the top 16. The Mexican driver believes Monaco’s unique characteristics help reduce some of Cadillac’s disadvantages, particularly because the Ferrari power unit’s deficit is less noticeable around the tight and twisty streets of Monte Carlo.
According to Perez, confidence behind the wheel becomes a decisive factor on a circuit like Monaco, where driver commitment, tyre management and overall car balance often matter more than outright power.
Sergio Perez eyes a place in Q2
Speaking about Cadillac’s prospects for qualifying, Perez remained cautiously optimistic.
“We are close, but it will depend,” Perez said. “I think we rely a little more on others making mistakes, which can happen here. There can be a lot of chaos, so we need to be ready, put the lap together when it matters and get the maximum out of the car tomorrow. That is the goal, and hopefully it will be our first Q2.”
The former Grand Prix winner also highlighted how small the margins are throughout the field: “We have been competitive from the moment we went out on track. We seem to be close. If we find a few tenths, it will change our lives. Everyone is in the same boat. Everything will be decided in qualifying, by putting everything together when it counts, and then we go from there.”
Perez believes Cadillac’s progress is the result of several factors coming together rather than a single breakthrough.
“I think it is a bit of everything. Having confidence in your car makes a huge difference here. Also, with the way the engine works, the car probably makes less of a difference. The grid is much tighter, and getting the tyres to work and everything else right is always a challenge around here.”
Brake issue ends FP2 early
Perez’s second practice session ended prematurely after a brake-related problem forced him to stop on track near Casino Square, with smoke clearly visible coming from the car.
Despite the dramatic images, Cadillac engineering consultant Pat Symonds downplayed the incident and suggested it was likely an isolated problem rather than a broader concern for the team.
“Everything looked fairly normal until the moment we saw that kind of smoke coming from Sergio Perez’s car,” Symonds explained – “And as everyone could clearly see on television, it was a brake fire. The fact that it happened so quickly makes us suspect that something may have been damaged or that some debris entered the duct. The guys are taking everything apart to see exactly what we find.”
Overall, the Monaco Grand Prix weekend represents an important opportunity for Cadillac to showcase the progress it has made since joining Formula 1. With the field exceptionally close and qualifying set to play a decisive role, reaching Q2 would represent a historic achievement and a clear sign that the team is moving in the right direction.
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