Cadillac's new F1 livery hits the track in Bahrain filming day

Cadillac's new Formula 1 car, featuring its recently unveiled split livery, has completed its first on-track running during a promotional filming day in Bahrain. Drivers Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas shared driving duties at the Bahrain International Circuit, marking a key milestone as the American team prepares for its debut season. The session served as a final shakedown before official pre-season testing begins later this week.

Why it matters:

The on-track debut of the definitive livery makes Cadillac's F1 entry tangible, transitioning from a marketing concept to a real racing entity. For a new constructor, every mile of running is critical data, and this filming day provides vital systems checks and driver acclimatization ahead of the intense three-day test that will set the tone for their competitive debut in Melbourne.

The details:

• The running took place at the Bahrain International Circuit under the allowances of a 'filming day,' which permits limited mileage for promotional and familiarization purposes.
• Both drivers, Pérez and Bottas, completed runs in the car, which now sports the final race livery first revealed during a high-profile Super Bowl event.
• Driver reactions focused on the momentum shift from launch to track action. Pérez called it "another important step" that highlights the team's effort to "push the boundaries," while Bottas stated the immediate track running made their debut season feel "very real."
• Pérez also tempered expectations in team statements, openly flagging that avoiding the back of the grid would be a primary goal, hinting at the steep challenge a new team faces against established competitors.

What's next:

All focus now shifts to the official pre-season test at the same Bahrain circuit from February 11-13. This three-day session will be the team's first and only chance to gather meaningful performance and reliability data before the cars are shipped to Australia for the season-opening Grand Prix. The team's stated goal is to maximize every lap to understand the car's package and "hit the ground running in Melbourne."