Cadillac Racing has announced that it will make updates to its Formula 1 car in the upcoming races, aiming to improve its performance. Sergio Pérez hopes that these changes will allow them to score points before the summer break.
The American team made its debut at the Australian Grand Prix, but it found itself far from the middle of the pack in a race that highlighted the shortcomings of its MAC-26. Pérez finished in a disappointing 16th position, 56 seconds behind the 15th place, occupied by Carlos Sainz, and more than two minutes from the points-scoring positions.
The Mexican driver commented that the lack of performance from his car was predictable, as it was designed in advance with limited resources. “We knew the beginning would be tough,” he stated. Pérez highlighted that Ferrari’s power is decent, but what they lack is aerodynamic strength.
Valtteri Bottas, Pérez’s teammate, also pointed out the car’s limitations in aerodynamic performance, especially at the rear. “We are lacking downforce, which affects our mechanical setup. Once we have more downforce, we expect to recover performance,” he added.
Progress in the upcoming races
With improvements ready to be implemented, Bottas is confident that in the first five races they can make significant advancements in aerodynamic downforce. “We will see how this impacts performance, especially in the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races,” he stated.
Pérez, for his part, is looking to bridge this gap with competitors. “I hope we can score points before the summer break. Knowing that we are a new team, we have the resources and the necessary experience,” he concluded.
