Sergio Perez explained the areas in which Cadillac has been able to show significant progress on its first Formula 1 car, pointing out “some very clear gains” in the tricky position of being against established teams.
The Silverstone-based American outfit has naturally endured a tough start to its maiden F1 season, with so far neither Perez nor teammate Valtteri Bottas scoring a point.
Perez took 10th place in the Monaco Grand Prix, but retrospective penalties saw him dropped down the order, with the single championship point taken by Aston Martin, and fellow veteran, Fernando Alonso.
The MAC-26 chassis has been able to move further up the lower end of the grid via Perez’s sterling performances, but its baby steps will inevitably see the team likely to remain closer to the foot of the grid than the front in the short-term.
Ahead of last weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, Perez, when asked what steps the team can take to ensure a stronger chance of being competitive in 2027, Perez listed the fundamentals it needs to tackle.
“I think if we are able to progress, tackle the ride, the right is really important at the moment. And obviously making some good aero gains, identifying that correlation will be key for our success on track,” he told media, including Motorsport Week.
“At the moment, we see some very clear gains that we can have in a short period of time, but obviously we’re fighting the best teams in the world, the most established teams so we’re not in an easy situation at the moment.”
Given the complexity of the new technical regulations, every team will have seen a lot of changes in their respective cars between their initial shakedowns and the present moment of the season.
Perez explained that weight and aerodynamic improvements are evident, opining that: “I think we’ve come a long way in terms of load. I think in one area we haven’t made much progress but in load, in aero, we’ve made some good progress.”
The high speeds of the Red Bull Ring will provide a tricky challenge for Cadillac at next week’s Austrian Grand Prix, but can look forward to the possible benefits it will stand to receive via engine supplier Ferrari’s qualificaiton for the FIA’s Additional Upgrades and Development Opportunities [ADUO] scheme.
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