F1 | Cadillac, Perez has already tested the simulator: inside the making of the 2026 car
Sergio Perez has already visited Cadillac’s headquarters in Charlotte, where he tested a simulator adapted from IndyCar to Formula 1 specifications. This preparation is crucial not only for contributing to the development of the 2026 car but also for preparing for a TPC test with the Ferrari SF-23, a key opportunity for Perez to regain race rhythm and physical condition after a year away from competitive racing.
With just over five months remaining until Cadillac’s debut in the 2026 Formula 1 season, a new chapter is taking shape. The American manufacturer has chosen to invest heavily in building a project from scratch — not inheriting a legacy, but creating a story from the ground up. Personnel, facilities, and ideas all need to transform into a team capable of bringing the American dream to the racetrack.
This rare opportunity to start from zero comes with unprecedented autonomy, yet it also presents significant organizational challenges. The team must construct a functional structure capable of fielding a competitive car, turning vision into reality on the track.
Behind the scenes, time is passing quickly. At the Silverstone factory, two countdowns remind everyone how close the debut is. The first counts down to the car’s initial fire-up, a target date the team is determined not to miss. The second tracks the days remaining until the first race in Melbourne — where no second chances will exist, and the track will ultimately deliver the verdict.
Meanwhile, preparation work is divided between two main hubs: the US base in Charlotte, the heart of General Motors activities and a reference point until the new Fisher facility is completed, and the UK base in Silverstone, previously run by Andretti and now under Cadillac control. Silverstone will serve as the operational headquarters in Europe and attract new engineers to strengthen the workforce.
The team’s work is split between these two facilities, simulating entire race weekends and running through all the phases of a typical Formula 1 event, as seen during preparations for the Italian Grand Prix. This process has become even more focused since the official announcement of the 2026 driver lineup.
Sergio Perez visited the Charlotte headquarters, where he tested the team’s simulator. Interestingly, this is the same unit used for IndyCar: the lower motion structure remains largely unchanged, while the upper section has been adapted with a Formula 1-style chassis, replacing the original IndyCar frame.
After visiting Charlotte, Perez also traveled to Silverstone, which will serve as the team’s operational and logistics hub, as well as a center for recruiting engineers to strengthen the staff. Simulator work has proven invaluable not only for testing the tools used to develop the 2026 car — managed primarily at the Charlotte center where entire race weekend processes are replicated — but also for helping Perez regain confidence in a Formula 1 car, even if virtual.
As reported by Motorsport.com, Perez is expected to participate in a TPC test behind the wheel of a Ferrari SF-23. This solution is necessary because Cadillac does not yet have historical F1 cars available and is facilitated by the agreement with Ferrari to supply power units starting in 2026.
This testing provides an important chance to accumulate laps and assess physical condition, since a year away from racing, despite consistent training, inevitably takes a toll. The neck muscles, in particular, are affected, no longer accustomed to the extreme stresses imposed by an F1 car.
Alongside Perez in 2026 will be Valtteri Bottas. The team has confirmed that while Bottas will retain his role as Mercedes reserve driver until the end of the year, he will have dedicated windows to focus entirely on developing the Cadillac. These sessions are crucial not only for technical growth but also for refining the internal software: every simulator session generates valuable data used to train algorithms that can provide increasingly accurate predictions and scenarios.
Once the team finally hits the track, the complexity will increase, but the groundwork laid so far provides engineers and strategists with a solid foundation. Cadillac is effectively running a “shadow championship” away from the spotlight, testing every procedure and simulating all possible contingencies. The goal is to approach Melbourne not as an inexperienced newcomer, but as a team that has already learned, at least virtually, to manage the pressures, split-second decisions, and emotions of a real Grand Prix.
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