Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez returned to the F1 paddock with Cadillac during the opening day of the 2026 Barcelona shakedown, completing only 11 laps amid technical glitches. The Mexican driver took a positive view, noting the value of uncovering problems early in Cadillac's new F1 project ahead of the 2026 season.
Pérez took over from Valtteri Bottas, who completed 33 laps in the morning session. Despite not posting competitive times, Pérez prioritized reliability: “Today we had many problems, which is good. It's our first day, so in that sense it has been positive,” he said. “You want all the problems to appear now and, hopefully, the next days will be much smoother for us.”
Cadillac is developing its 2026 entry from scratch amid major regulatory shifts, including new chassis designs and V6 hybrid power units. Pérez described the cars as “radically different,” marking the biggest change in his career. “It's still very early,” he added.
The session fell on Pérez's birthday, amplifying his enthusiasm: “It's really very nice to be back. Starting a new season and also with a new team. It's a huge project.” He praised the team's organization: “Sometimes people forget how big Formula 1 team organizations are. Seeing everyone taking their positions and learning to work together is great.”
Like other teams, Cadillac encountered teething troubles, aligning with the shakedown's focus on system verification rather than performance. Official timings are not released. Following Barcelona, teams head to Bahrain for further testing (Feb 11-13 and 18-20) before the Australian GP opener (March 6-8).
