Cadillac will field Sergio Perez in what is thought to be a two-year-old Ferrari at Imola in a Testing of Previous Cars test ahead of the team’s 2026 Formula 1 debut.
The American squad is already amid its firm and thorough preparations for its first year in the sport, in which it will field Perez and fellow F1 veteran Valtteri Bottas.
Given its rookie status and its status as a Ferrari customer, the team has been afforded the chance to complete TPC tests in the Scuderia’s machinery.
It was long-rumoured that the Mexican, who is in town for his home race as a spectator this year, would be taking part in a test that completes a somewhat full-circle moment, having been a Ferrari junior driver earlier in his career.
The Mexican has been quoted as saying: “I’m going to have two days in Imola, which is going to help me a lot,” before adding, when asked what car it would be, “I think 2023.”
It will be an opportunity for Perez to get his eye in again, having spent this year out of the game following his unceremonious ousting from Red Bull at the end of last year.
Speaking to media including Motorsport Week at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez Circuit, Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur confirmed the loan of the car to Cadillac and the two days of TPC testing, saying “the challenge for them [Cadillac] is huge.”
Vasseur also gave his thoughts on those challenges the Silverstone-based outfit will face, many of which will not even be directly to do with its own machine, which will take to the track in anger at the Australian Grand Prix for the first time.
“The issue is not too much the car, I would say,” he added. “Strangely, it’s more the logistics, the setup of the garage, the infrastructure, the IT system.
“I think it’s a good test for them to put everything in place.”
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