Cadillac F1 Team Principal Praises Bottas and Perez for 'Super Accurate' Feedback in Testing

Cadillac Formula 1 team principal Graeme Lowdon has emphasized the value of the team's experienced driver lineup, highlighting the immediate and precise feedback from Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez during pre-season testing. The new American outfit, entering as the 11th team on the grid, opted for veteran drivers to accelerate its development from a clean slate.

Why it matters:

For a brand-new F1 team starting from zero, every minute of track time is critical. Having drivers with extensive experience across multiple teams, cars, and regulations means Cadillac can trust the data and feedback it receives, avoiding costly misinterpretations or developmental dead ends. This strategic choice could significantly shorten their learning curve in a highly competitive environment.

The details:

• Lowdon specifically praised the drivers' ability to provide "super accurate, thoughtful, and valuable feedback straight away," which is essential for a team with no historical data of its own.
• Both Bottas and Perez debuted in F1 over a decade ago (2011 and 2013, respectively) and have worked with various engineers, chassis, and power units, giving them a broad reference frame.
• This experience proved crucial during a disrupted first test in Bahrain, where limited running due to red flags required drivers to be immediately up to speed and extract maximum information from minimal laps.
• Lowdon noted that even without dedicated performance runs, Bottas was able to "switch it on" instantly during a single-lap outing on the C3 compound tire, demonstrating the caliber of feedback the team is receiving.

What's next:

The immediate focus is the second and final block of pre-season testing in Bahrain, running from February 18-20. Cadillac will continue to gather data and refine its 2026 car with its veteran drivers before the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix. The team's early progress and the quality of its driver feedback will be put to the test when competitive sessions begin.