PEREZ ADMITS TO DISAPPOINTMENT WITH CADILLAC'S FIRST F1 SEASON

Cadillac's first F1 season is hitting turbulence. Sergio Perez admits the American outfit's recent development plateau has been "a disappointment," with the team missing roughly a second of lap time they expected to find by mid-season. Early promise saw Cadillac pull clear of Aston Martin, but recent upgrades from the Silverstone squad—new aero in Hungary and the Netherlands, plus Honda power gains—have swung the battle back the other way.

Perez insists the pace is there. "Half a second, one second will change our life completely at this stage," he told Beyond the Grid, arguing that gains in downforce and ride quality could close the gap to Williams, Haas, and the recovering Aston Martin. For a new team, stalling out after a strong start stings. But if Cadillac can unlock that missing second before the 2026 regulations reset the grid, the American project stays alive. If not, year one becomes a missed opportunity.