Cadillac’s journey in Formula 1 has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride this season, but recent performances suggest the American team is finally finding its footing in the competitive midfield. After a challenging start, the team is beginning to show promising signs of improvement, especially following their upgrade package introduced in Austria.
While they have yet to score any championship points, both Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are gaining ground on their rivals, demonstrating that Cadillac is no longer just a backmarker. Their progress has been particularly evident in qualifying, where the gaps to their competitors have significantly narrowed.
In the season opener in Australia, Perez found himself over six-tenths behind Fernando Alonso during qualifying, with Bottas trailing even further. Fast forward to Silverstone, and Bottas managed to out-qualify one of the Alpines and closed the gap to the slowest Haas, showcasing Cadillac’s rising competitiveness in the lower midfield.
Despite not yet breaking into Q2 or SQ2 this season, the trajectory suggests that it could happen before the year wraps up if they maintain this momentum.
Race day has also brought its share of challenges for the Cadillac duo. Although neither driver has scored points yet, Perez came heartbreakingly close in Monaco, initially placing P10 before a time penalty dashed his hopes. Their finishing positions have sometimes benefited from retirements ahead, with Bottas finishing 13th in China and Perez securing 14th on two occasions. However, the real story lies in their race pace, which is steadily improving.
During the British Grand Prix, the late Safety Car bunched up the pack, but before that, both Cadillacs were in a fierce battle with Haas and Williams. Perez’s performance has notably improved; after finishing three laps down in Australia, he managed to finish only one lap down in China and even crossed the line on the lead lap in Japan and Monaco.
Reflecting on the British Grand Prix, Perez expressed optimism, stating, “Overall it was a good race and probably one of our best so far this season.” Competing closely with Haas, a team that has had its moments of success, marks a significant step forward for Cadillac.
As the team looks ahead, more upgrades are on the horizon. Perez emphasized the need for continued development, saying, “There is some work to do, but we have to keep pushing.” Bottas echoed this sentiment, noting that their pace has improved, particularly on hard tires, as they aim to close the gap to the midfield.
While Cadillac is no longer at the back of the grid in 2026, the road to scoring those elusive points remains challenging. Will they find the luck and speed needed to break into the points-paying positions? Only time will tell.
