Cadillac F1 Team Completes First On-Track Shakedown Ahead of 2026 Debut

Formula 1’s newest team has reached a major milestone, with Cadillac completing its first-ever on-track running ahead of its 2026 debut season. The Cadillac F1 Team gave its new car a maiden shakedown at Silverstone Circuit on Friday, marking a significant step in preparations for its arrival on the grid.

Set to join Formula 1 as the championship’s 11th team in 2026, Cadillac carried out the run during a filming day at the British Grand Prix venue, with Sergio Pérez behind the wheel. The Mexican was joined at the track by team-mate Valtteri Bottas and reserve driver Zhou Guanyu, who all played a role in the landmark test.

The American outfit shared a short clip of its first Formula 1 car running on track, offering fans an early glimpse of the machine in action and a preview of the Ferrari power unit’s engine note. Zhou also posted a video of himself in Cadillac team gear, carefully avoiding any shots of the car itself, which is set to be officially unveiled in a Super Bowl advertisement next month ahead of the first of Formula 1’s two Bahrain pre-season test sessions.

To prevent leaks, Cadillac reportedly covered phone cameras belonging to those with access to the car, with exceptions made only for the team’s official filming crew. Despite these precautions, a handful of distant images from the Silverstone garages have surfaced on social media.

Running in damp conditions, the Ferrari-powered challenger completed its first laps with Pérez given the honour of driving the car for its debut, while Bottas observed from the pit lane. Team CEO Dan Towriss was also present to witness the historic moment.

Cadillac later released additional images from the day, including distant shots of the car running down the pit straight. While the shakedown was limited in mileage, it represented a crucial step in the team’s build-up to its first full Formula 1 campaign.

Reflecting on the occasion, Pérez described the experience as an emotional milestone for everyone involved.

“Today was really an amazing day,” Pérez said. “Everyone should feel incredibly proud to complete our first laps as a team. Every single person has worked so hard to reach this moment, and it was emotional to be part of motorsport history.”

Cadillac will now continue its preparations ahead of official pre-season testing, where it will run alongside the rest of the Formula 1 field for the first time. The team’s competitive debut is scheduled for the opening round of the 2026 season, the Australian Grand Prix in early March.

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Written by

James Rees

A passionate motorsport journalist from Wales, with over 30 years of love for the sport. A dedicated father of three, working as a content manager, covering the fast-paced world of Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula E, and IndyCar.

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