Sergio Pérez remains confident that Cadillac is making meaningful progress in its debut Formula 1 season, despite the American team’s continued struggles to compete with the established midfield.
Following another points-free weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix, the Mexican driver believes Cadillac has established a solid operational foundation but acknowledges that significant improvements in car performance are still required.
With the United States and Mexican Grands Prix approaching, Pérez is preparing for two particularly meaningful events: Cadillac’s home race in Austin and his own homecoming in Mexico City, where he is set to make his 300th Grand Prix appearance.
Cadillac’s Progress Goes Beyond Race Results
Cadillac’s arrival in Formula 1 in 2026 has presented the American manufacturer with a substantial challenge: building an entirely new team while adapting to the technical and competitive demands of the championship.
Although the team’s results have yet to reflect its ambitions, Pérez believes its operational development has been encouraging.
“I think we are in a strong position thanks to the foundations we have built so far,” Pérez explained.
“Operationally, we are performing well, and the team has done an excellent job. We can be satisfied with that aspect.”
However, the former Red Bull driver recognises that Cadillac still faces a significant performance deficit compared with its immediate rivals.
“We are still missing around one to one and a half seconds to compete with the cars ahead of us. What we really need now is a more competitive car.”
For Pérez, the distinction between the team’s organisational progress and its on-track competitiveness is important.
He believes Cadillac’s personnel and race operations are developing according to plan, even if the machinery has not yet reached the level required to challenge regularly for points.
“Everything else is going according to plan, and I’m convinced we will achieve our objectives together.”
Austin and Mexico Carry Special Significance for Pérez
Pérez is now looking ahead to two consecutive races that hold particular importance for both himself and Cadillac.
The United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas represents a home event for the American manufacturer, while the Mexican Grand Prix will provide Pérez with an opportunity to race in front of his own supporters.
“I’m really looking forward to Austin and Mexico, our two home races,” Pérez said.
“Austin will be the team’s home race, while Mexico will be particularly special for me.”
The Mexico City weekend will also mark a significant milestone in the 36-year-old’s Formula 1 career, as he prepares to make his 300th Grand Prix appearance.
“I’ll be racing in front of my fans and competing in my 300th Grand Prix. It will be a truly unique weekend.”
Although Cadillac is unlikely to arrive at either event as a regular points contender, the upcoming races offer an opportunity to demonstrate the team’s progress on two important stages.
Bottas Highlights Reliability Improvements in Singapore
Valtteri Bottas shares Pérez’s assessment of Cadillac’s current competitive position, although the Finnish driver identified an encouraging development following the Singapore Grand Prix.
Bottas finished 19th at Marina Bay, with both Cadillac cars reaching the chequered flag despite their lack of pace.
“It’s positive to have brought both cars to the finish,” Bottas explained.
“Recently, that hasn’t been guaranteed at all, so I consider it progress.”
For a team still establishing itself in Formula 1, completing races consistently represents an important step towards developing stronger operational procedures and gathering valuable technical data.
Nevertheless, Bottas acknowledged that reliability improvements alone will not be enough to close the gap to Cadillac’s competitors.
Race Pace Remains Cadillac’s Biggest Weakness
Bottas identified tyre performance and overall race pace as two of Cadillac’s most pressing concerns following the Singapore Grand Prix.
The team started the race on medium tyres, but the compound failed to deliver the expected performance during the opening stint.
“We started on the medium tyres, but they didn’t perform as expected in the first stint, which cost us ground,” Bottas said.
“Overall, we are lacking pace, particularly in the race. That is our main weakness, and we are trying to understand the reasons behind it.”
The Finnish driver also stressed that Cadillac does not have an immediate technical solution capable of transforming its competitiveness.
“We know we haven’t introduced any major upgrades, so there is no magic solution.”
Instead, the team must continue working to understand its current limitations while directing increasing attention towards next season’s car.
“We simply have to keep working, with a particular focus on next year’s car.”
Cadillac Turns Its Attention Towards 2027
With the 2026 season entering its final stages, Cadillac’s priorities are increasingly shifting towards long-term development.
The team’s first year in Formula 1 has exposed the scale of the challenge facing a new entrant, particularly when competing against established manufacturers with years of technical experience and infrastructure.
However, both Pérez and Bottas believe that the progress made in team operations and reliability provides a foundation for future improvement.
The immediate challenge is to translate that progress into greater competitiveness on track, particularly by addressing the car’s substantial performance deficit and inconsistent race pace.
For Pérez, the upcoming Grands Prix in Austin and Mexico will offer two memorable occasions during a demanding debut campaign.
While a breakthrough result remains uncertain, Cadillac will be hoping to demonstrate further progress before turning its attention more fully towards building a stronger package for 2027.
