The first news from Cadillac’s Formula 1 project comes straight from Silverstone, where the new American team completed its first on-track kilometers. At the wheel of the 2026 car was Checo Perez, who participated in a shakedown that marked a historic step for the team and an extremely encouraging debut for the Ferrari power unit supplied by Maranello. Valtteri Bottas was present as a spectator during the day.
From the very first laps, the primary goal was to check that all systems were functioning correctly and to gather initial data. The feedback was immediately positive, with the car completing the program without any issues, showing a solid foundation both mechanically and operationally.
Perez shares first impressions from the initial laps
The Mexican driver, at the end of the day, emphasized the excitement of driving for a completely new team for the first time. Perez said, “Today was really an incredible day. Everyone should feel extremely proud to have completed our first laps as a team.”
The initial feeling was described as encouraging, with the car showing smooth and predictable behavior from the very first kilometers – a detail that is far from guaranteed at such an early stage of development.
Strong debut for the Ferrari power unit
One of the most closely watched elements of this first test was undoubtedly the Ferrari power unit, tasked with equipping Cadillac as it prepares for its championship debut. Early feedback was extremely positive, with the Maranello engine running flawlessly throughout the session.
Perez highlighted that the work done so far has built confidence, explaining that he is eager to get back in the car to continue accumulating laps and developing the car. He said, “We can and should enjoy this result, but it has given me even more motivation for the future. I just want to get back in the car and rack up kilometers; this is only the beginning.”
The absence of technical issues is an important signal, especially considering these were the car’s very first laps. A smooth start allows the team to focus immediately on data analysis and preparing for the next official tests.
How Cadillac’s Ferrari-powered filming day unfolded and what was tested
This shakedown was not focused on performance, but the work carried out went far beyond simple kilometers. The team was able to test procedures, garage communication, and integration between chassis and power unit – fundamental elements for a structure building everything from scratch.
The positive impressions from Sergio Perez, combined with the reliable performance of the Ferrari engine, represent a solid starting point. The focus now shifts to pre-season testing, where Cadillac will begin to explore the full potential of its 2026 car in much greater depth.
The successful shakedown of the Cadillac F1 challenger at Silverstone marks a critical “proof of concept” for the new American entry and its partnership with Ferrari. By completing a trouble-free program with Sergio Perez, the team has cleared its first major hurdle, silencing skeptics who doubted the readiness of the project’s integration with the Maranello Power Unit. As the team moves toward the high-stakes 2026 era, this initial reliability provides a vital psychological boost for the crew and drivers, allowing them to enter official testing with a car that is already “track-proven” rather than a theoretical prototype.
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