Perez to test Ferrari at Imola as Cadillac F1 gears up for 2026

Cadillac F1 driver Sergio Perez has revealed that he’ll rev-up his 2026 preparations along with his new team next month at Imola where the Mexican will take to the track onboard a 2023-spec Ferrari.

Perez is present this weekend for F1’s visit to Mexico City, and after taking part in a charity football match on Thursday, the 34-year-old shared fresh details about the upcoming Testing of Previous Cars session that will see the fledgling Cadillac team hit the track for the first time, albeit with a car supplied by the Scuderia.

Perez confirmed that the Imola outing will serve as a key systems check for both driver and crew ahead of a full-scale development program early next year.

“We’ll have some testing sessions in November,” he said.

“They’ll be very useful because we’ll be able to work with the mechanics and engineers to have the whole team ready for the testing program that begins in January – very early in the year – where we’ll already be at 100%.”

The test, using Ferrari’s SF-23, will give Cadillac’s engineers and operations staff a live track environment to rehearse procedures before the American outfit begins testing its own car in 2026.

Cadillac Collaboration Well Underway

Perez’s collaboration with Cadillac is already well advanced. He recently spent time at the brand’s headquarters in Charlotte, followed by sessions at Silverstone, where he met with engineers, completed simulator runs, and even provided cockpit feedback.

During this phase, the team has been rehearsing race weekend operations – from pit stop choreography to garage communications – all in preparation for the Imola debut.

For Perez, the off-season is about sharpening every tool before his official comeback to the grid.

“For now, my focus is on working fully in the simulator and on the physical side to be ready for the comeback,” he said.

And so far, the Mexican driver is clearly enjoying his new surroundings.

“It’s always great to have a team that listens to you, supports you, and values you. That’s what every driver dreams of having,” Perez added.

Next month’s Imola test marks Cadillac’s first public step in transforming from a bold concept into a fully-fledged F1 team.

And for Perez, it’s the start of an all-new journey, one that could see both driver and manufacturer make history together.

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