Cadillac’s Perez set for F1 track test with partner car

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Sergio Perez has confirmed he will test an F1 car later this year to prepare for his return to the grid with Cadillac in 2026.

The Mexican driver, who lost his Red Bull seat at the end of last season, was confirmed last month as part of Cadillac’s inaugural F1 lineup alongside Valtteri Bottas.

With the US team set to make its debut in the sport next year, Perez is already taking steps to shake off the rust and get his body race-ready for his upcoming campaign.

On-Track Action and Simulator Work

Perez confirmed this week that he will be taking part in testing later this year, although he stopped short of revealing the exact car.

“Next week I will be in Charlotte and in England,” Perez told reporters. “For me, it’s important to drive this year. Especially for the neck, so that my body adapts again to what’s going to happen in 2026.

“I will train in the simulator, and there are plans for me to test an F1 car.”

Reports suggest Perez’s on-track sessions could take place in Ferrari’s 2023 challenger, following an agreement between Cadillac and its engine partner.

With the American team yet to have its own car on track, these early outings will give Perez – and likely Bottas – critical seat time ahead of the team’s debut season.

Cadillac Prepares for Its First Season

Last month, Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon offered insight into the rationale behind the new entrant’s early testing plans.

“Obviously, we have to work with others to be able to do that, but that’s perfectly allowable under the regulations. We don't have a TPC car or a car we can operate [on our own],” he said.

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Cadillac’s Lowdon: Success in F1 debut season ‘difficult to quantify’

These tests will also be the first opportunity for Cadillac’s crews to work together trackside, months ahead of the official pre-season sessions in Barcelona in early 2026.

For a start-up operation, this early cohesion is considered essential for building reliability and teamwork before the pressure of a race weekend.

As Perez himself noted, it’s not just about testing – it’s about ensuring that he and the entire Cadillac team are ready for the rigors of racing once the light go out in Melbourne next March.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.