Perez responds to Mario Andretti: “My driving is in good shape, not rusty”
Cadillac and its debut
As expected in its first year in Formula 1, Cadillac currently sits near the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship standings. However, the American team has made significant progress. While they have yet to score points, both drivers have nearly finished all of the first three races, with this milestone missed only once by Valtteri Bottas in Australia. Conversely, Sergio Perez has consistently crossed the finish line, with his best personal result being 15th in China (in the same race, Bottas finished even higher in 13th).
‘Big Foot’s’ criticism
Despite the kilometers completed and data gathered—which could prove decisive for the car’s development—Cadillac board member Mario Andretti did not hide his disappointment with his drivers. The 1978 World Champion stated that both drivers were “a bit rusty” after a year away from racing, remarks he made immediately after the Chinese Grand Prix.
Perez’s reply
In response, Sergio Perez firmly rejected the idea that his driving has deteriorated: “To be honest, I think we’ve had very high-level performances,” he told the media. “In particular, I was very happy with my weekend in Melbourne. My first qualifying session was quite satisfying. In the race, we faced very different scenarios. We sustained a lot of damage, so it wasn’t easy at all. Shanghai was also not a simple weekend. I took a lot of damage during the race, so let’s say I didn’t have a complete weekend. But in terms of performance, I’m quite satisfied. I returned and was immediately competitive within a couple of days. I’m in a good moment in terms of driving.”
In summary, Sergio Perez remains confident in his ability to lead Cadillac through the growing pains of their inaugural F1 season. While Mario Andretti’s high standards mean the board is looking for immediate results, “Checo” is focused on the technical progress being made despite the on-track incidents that have hampered his final results. As Cadillac continues to refine its package for the 2026 regulations, the internal dynamic between its veteran drivers and the ambitious management team will be a key storyline to watch. For Perez, the goal remains clear: proving that his experience is the asset the team needs to bridge the gap to the points-paying positions.
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