Cadillac’s Graeme Lowdon was inspired by Sergio Perez’s first check with Components 1’s new staff for 2026, saying the Mexican veteran is “re-entering Components 1 with precisely the correct 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.
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Perez accomplished 183 laps throughout two days in an unpainted SF-23, and whereas the check with one other staff’s out of date automobile wasn’t related in and of itself, it was the primary time the 35-year-old veteran returned to the cockpit of an F1 automobile since his closing race for Purple Bull on the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, almost one 12 months in the past.
So whereas the Imola check was an important alternative for Cadillac’s mechanics and trackside engineers to arrange for 2026, it was additionally an opportunity for Perez to mud off any cobwebs.
“I might see an actual enthusiasm with Checo,” staff boss Lowdon stated when requested by Motorsport.com about his impression of his new driver. “I believe he is re-entering Components 1 with precisely the correct angle. And it is a constructive angle of a racer.
“He is a correct racing driver, however he is been out of the automobile for a short time, so it was actually good to see him within the automobile.
Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Picture by: Jacopo Rava
“I used to be intrigued to see how he could be bodily as a result of while you drive these automobiles, specifically on the neck, it is a actually troublesome space of the physique to arrange for what truly occurs in a automobile. And he coped extremely nicely with that as nicely. In order that was actually encouraging. It is simply good to see him go round.”
Explaining what Cadillac received out of the two-day outing, Lowdon stated: “We’re very grateful to Ferrari for lending us an F1 automobile, as a result of we need to make every thing as reasonable as doable. And for the mechanics, going via issues like blanket procedures, begin procedures, the fast turnaround for Q1 to Q2. There’s just one solution to do it and that is to do it with a Components 1 automobile.
“And it was helpful as nicely for Checo to get used to working with the fellows who’re going to be on his automobile crew. He did 90 [laps] on at some point 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 completely different groups, so that they have completely different experiences with completely different energy items, completely different procedures for ERS emergency and that type of factor. So, it was tremendous, tremendous helpful. I am actually happy that we did it.”
Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Picture by: Jacopo Rava
Lowdon confirmed that the staff’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 man to work with. Once more, he is tremendous enthusiastic. Mercedes has been actually cooperative and useful.
“I believe each Checo and Valtteri nonetheless have lots to supply to F1. If that they had walked away from the game utterly, it will have been a loss for F1, so it is nice to have them within the staff.
“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’ve got forward of us.”
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