Sergio Perez's Emotional Message After Cadillac's 2026 Shakedown
Sergio Perez expressed immense pride after driving Cadillac's 2026 car during its first shakedown at Silverstone, marking a historic moment for the new F1 team.
Cadillac has officially turned a wheel in Formula 1, with Sergio Perez behind the wheel for the team's 2026 shakedown at Silverstone. Following the milestone laps, the Mexican driver delivered an emotional message over team radio, expressing immense pride in the squad's efforts to reach this historic moment and urging them to "make history together."
Why it matters:
This marks the culmination of a massive effort by General Motors and Cadillac to enter the pinnacle of motorsport under the new 2026 regulations. For Perez, who sat out the entire 2025 season, this run serves as a significant re-entry into the grid and a fresh start after leaving Red Bull. A successful shakedown is a critical first step in validating the team's operational readiness ahead of a competitive debut season.
The details:
- The Radio Message: As the shakedown concluded, Perez told the team, "Guys, I’m extremely proud of all of you. This is a very special moment for Cadillac F1 Team. Let’s make history together."
- Perez's Return: The six-time race winner admitted the session "absolutely fired me up for more" after spending the previous year away from full-time competition. He emphasized the desire to get back in the car and accumulate mileage.
- Bottas's Role: While Perez drove, teammate Valtteri Bottas watched closely. The Finn, returning from a reserve role at Mercedes, noted the car ran smoothly and praised the team for reaching this impressive milestone so quickly.
- Livery Timeline: The car appeared in an all-black camouflage livery at Silverstone. Cadillac will switch to a special color scheme featuring staff names for the Barcelona test, with the definitive race livery set to be revealed in a Super Bowl commercial on February 8.
What's next:
The focus now shifts to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for five days of official pre-season testing beginning January 26. After that, the team will travel to Bahrain for the final two tests before the 2026 season kicks off.