F1 | Cadillac faces early challenges in Barcelona tests, Sergio Perez admits: “We had many problems”. Sergio Perez reveals the early struggles Cadillac faced during their first pre-season test.

Sergio Perez revealed that he encountered several issues on the first day of testing in Barcelona with the Cadillac team.

Formula 1 returned to the track today as teams kicked off the initial testing programs for the 2026 season at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. However, the day was not smooth for everyone, with Cadillac experiencing multiple technical difficulties during their first outing, as Sergio Perez himself confirmed.

Perez and Cadillac’s challenges

The Mexican driver, celebrating his birthday, took to the wheel of the American team’s car for the first laps of these pre-season sessions. The work was shared with teammate Valtteri Bottas. Both drivers return to Formula 1 after spending the entire 2025 season “on the sidelines.” The new Cadillac project represents a stimulating challenge for two experienced drivers familiar with the demands of the F1 Circus.

Sergio Perez completed the first day of testing in Barcelona with Cadillac but did not hide the various difficulties the team faced in preparing their car for its F1 debut in 2026. Checo, however, remains optimistic, emphasizing that these early days are precisely when teams can address teething problems.

“It’s always difficult to get laps in when there’s such a major regulation change,” admitted the former Red Bull driver. “We had a lot of problems today, but that’s okay. It’s our first day, so that’s a positive. We’d rather have issues now than later. Hopefully, the next few days will go smoother for us,” Perez explained in an interview with F1TV.

At this stage, the focus for teams is to complete as many kilometers as possible and to resolve any existing problems. “We’re just trying to maximize everything,” Checo added. Together with Bottas, he gathered initial feedback on the first day on track: “We’re mainly focused on completing a solid number of laps, which I think is the top priority. In the coming days, this will remain the most important task.”

Adapting to the 2026 cars

Perez had the opportunity to test the new cars designed under the 2026 regulations. Formula 1 cars have been completely redesigned, and this also requires drivers to adjust their driving style.

“The car is extremely different from what we were used to,” he highlighted. “These are still the first few days. I think this is the biggest regulation change I’ve ever faced in my career. Adapting will be a challenge for all drivers,” Perez concluded at the end of the session.

For now we are only seeing the beginning of a steep learning curve for Cadillac. Sergio Perez’s debut with the team underscores the grit required to build a competitive operation from scratch under the most complex regulations in F1 history. For the American outfit, overcoming these initial technical “headaches” is the first vital step toward the high-stakes reality of the opening Grand Prix in Australia.