Cadillac’s Graeme Lowdon was inspired by Sergio Perez‘s first check with Components 1’s new crew for 2026, saying the Mexican veteran is “re-entering Components 1 with precisely the suitable angle”.
Two weeks in the past at Imola, Perez took the wheel of a 2023 Ferrari automobile, which the Scuderia loaned to its 2026 energy unit buyer as Cadillac aimed to get its trackside crew race-ready for its debut season.
Perez accomplished 183 laps throughout two days in an unpainted SF-23, and whereas the check with one other crew’s out of date automobile wasn’t related in and of itself, it was the primary time the 35-year-old veteran returned to the cockpit of an F1 automobile since his ultimate race for Crimson Bull on the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, practically one yr in the past.
So whereas the Imola check was a fantastic alternative for Cadillac’s mechanics and trackside engineers to organize for 2026, it was additionally an opportunity for Perez to mud off any cobwebs.
“I may see an actual enthusiasm with Checo,” crew boss Lowdon mentioned when requested by Autosport about his impression of his new driver. “I feel he is re-entering Components 1 with precisely the suitable angle. And it is a optimistic angle of a racer.
“He is a correct racing driver, however he is been out of the automobile for a short while, so it was actually good to see him within the automobile.
Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Photograph by: Jacopo Rava
“I used to be intrigued to see how he could be bodily as a result of once you drive these vehicles, particularly on the neck, it is a actually troublesome space of the physique to organize for what truly occurs in a automobile. And he coped extremely effectively with that as effectively. In order that was actually encouraging. It is simply good to see him go round.”
Explaining what Cadillac acquired out of the two-day outing, Lowdon mentioned: “We’re very grateful to Ferrari for lending us an F1 automobile, as a result of we wish to make every thing as lifelike as potential. And for the mechanics, going via issues like blanket procedures, begin procedures, the fast turnaround for Q1 to Q2. There’s just one strategy to do it and that is to do it with a Components 1 automobile.
“And it was helpful as effectively for Checo to get used to working with the blokes who’re going to be on his automobile crew. He did 90 [laps] on someday and 93 on the opposite day, so it was good mileage. However an terrible lot of it was to exit, come again in, simulate a automobile coming in, simulate what occurs if there’s an alarm on the ERS system…
“The mechanics come from totally different groups, so that they have totally different experiences with totally different energy items, totally different procedures for ERS emergency and that form of factor. So, it was tremendous, tremendous helpful. I am actually happy that we did it.”
Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Photograph by: Jacopo Rava
Lowdon confirmed that the crew’s second common driver Valtteri Bottas will be part of the GM model’s ranks following the conclusion of the 2025 season in Abu Dhabi, till which he stays with Mercedes as its reserve driver.
“We get him after Abu Dhabi,” Lowdon added. “I can not wait. He is a very good man to work with. Once more, he is tremendous enthusiastic. Mercedes has been actually cooperative and useful.
“I feel each Checo and Valtteri nonetheless have so much to supply to F1. If that they had walked away from the game fully, it could have been a loss for F1, so it is nice to have them within the crew.
“They’re each tremendous fast guys, 16 grand prix wins between them, 106 podiums. Simply bringing all that have, that is precisely what we’d like for the duty that we have now forward of us.”
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