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59m ago

Cadillac Completes First F1 Shakedown at Silverstone as Ferrari’s 2026 Engine Debuts

Sergio Perez logged the first laps in a wet, tightly controlled filming run, setting up Barcelona testing later this month.

Mexican driver Sergio Perez gestures during a press conference to give details of his return to Formula 1 with the Cadillac F1 team, at Plaza Carso in Mexico City on August 27, 2025. (Photo by Alfredo ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images)
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Cadillac has hit the track as an F1 manufacturer for the first time. Image: Cadillac
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Overview

  • The American entrant, set to become F1’s 11th team in 2026, conducted its maiden run on January 16 under filming-day rules limiting running to 200 km on non‑race Pirelli tyres.
  • Sergio Perez handled the initial laps, with Valtteri Bottas and reserve Zhou Guanyu on site, as the team released only a brief distant video to protect design details.
  • The outing marked the first on‑track running of Ferrari’s 2026 power unit, which will supply Cadillac in its debut season.
  • Early technical issues and wet conditions at Silverstone delayed running before the car completed laps later in the day.
  • The program now moves to a private Barcelona test on January 26–30, a Super Bowl livery reveal on February 8, and Bahrain testing ahead of the March season opener.