Checo Pérez evaluates his first test with Cadillac: The initial challenges in Formula 1

After completing the preseason tests in Bahrain, Checo Pérez shares his analysis of the Cadillac F1 car. During the morning session on February 20th, the Mexican driver recorded a time of 1:40.842 after 61 laps, finishing tenth, about 9 seconds behind the reference driver Charles Leclerc with Ferrari (1:31.992). The Bahrain testing sessions were divided into two blocks: February 11-13 and February 18-20, where Checo Pérez fine-tuned the unit he will use in the 2026 season.

What Checo Pérez Observed in His Debut with the American Team

The Guadalajara-born driver showed confidence in the initial performance, despite the significant gap with the leading times. After handing over the wheel to his teammate Valtteri Bottas, Checo Pérez expressed trust in the progress made: “It’s about identifying the weak points. So far, the car’s balance looks pretty good. I believe we have a balanced car. In all sessions, we’ve shown notable improvements.”

Aware that the first year with any new team in F1 involves considerable challenges, Checo Pérez acknowledged that expectations should be realistic. “We are completing many kilometers, which is the most critical task for us. It was clear we would face a very challenging start, but the key is to see how quickly we can improve from here,” the Mexican driver added.

Cadillac’s Plan to Compete with the Big Teams

Cadillac’s engineering team is working to build a competitor on par with teams like McLaren or Red Bull, which dominated recent championships. Checo Pérez outlined the strategy: “Our challenge is to develop faster than the rivals ahead of us. It’s a huge goal for the whole year. The priority is to lay the foundations during the first half of the season, properly organize all departments, and maximize the car’s performance. With some luck, we might catch up to them in the short term.”

Both Checo Pérez and Bottas have played a decisive role in identifying areas for improvement that the team will develop before the official debut. “As a new structure, activating all departments takes time. We need to go out and extract all the available potential,” concluded Checo Pérez, who is preparing for the Australian Grand Prix 2026, the first event of the season.

Overall Overview of the Final Testing Session

Charles Leclerc finished the tests as the fastest of the day and of the entire session with Ferrari, after an intense session based on long runs and race simulations. Lando Norris with McLaren followed in the afternoon, and Max Verstappen with Red Bull, both solidifying their positions heading into the season.

The final test showed a mixed picture in the paddock. Mercedes experienced a slight drop in pace after leading previous days, while Williams and Aston Martin prioritized reliability protocols and data collection on timing. Overall, the teams took advantage of this closing session to validate aerodynamic packages, study tire degradation, and refine the final setup for Australia.