Cadillac has officially taken its first step onto the Formula 1 stage, completing an initial shakedown of its 2026 F1 car at Silverstone on Friday in a milestone moment for the championship’s newest team.
The American manufacturer, which will join the grid as Formula 1’s 11th team next season, carried out the filming day on the British Grand Prix circuit with Sergio Perez behind the wheel.
First Laps for Cadillac’s 2026 Challenger
The Silverstone outing marked the first time Cadillac’s F1 car has run on track, offering an early glimpse — and sound — of the project that has been years in the making.
Perez was joined at the circuit by team-mate Valtteri Bottas and reserve driver Zhou Guanyu, as the trio supported the shakedown programme for the Ferrari-powered single-seater.
Cadillac released a short clip of the car running, giving fans their first taste of the engine note, while carefully avoiding any full reveal of the car’s design.
Secrecy Tight as Official Reveal Nears
With Cadillac’s official race livery scheduled to be unveiled during a Super Bowl advert next month, the team enforced strict secrecy throughout the Silverstone test.
Reports from the circuit suggested that phone cameras were covered with stickers to prevent leaks, with only Cadillac’s own filming crew allowed to capture close-up footage. Despite this, a handful of long-distance images from the garages have already surfaced online.
Zhou Guanyu also teased the occasion by posting images in Cadillac team kit, while deliberately keeping the car out of view.
Early Hiccups, Then Progress
As is often the case with a brand-new car, the shakedown was not entirely smooth. Cadillac reportedly encountered minor running issues early in the day, before successfully firing up the engine and completing laps on a damp and challenging Silverstone surface.
Under filming day regulations, teams are limited to 200 kilometres of running and must use non-representative Pirelli tyres, meaning the focus was firmly on system checks rather than performance.
Perez: “An Emotional Moment”
For Perez, the day carried extra significance as he embarks on a new chapter with Cadillac after time away from the F1 grid.
“Today was really an amazing day,” Perez said.
“Everyone should feel incredibly proud to complete our first laps as a team. It was emotional to be part of motorsport history.”
The six-time grand prix winner added that the experience has only increased his motivation ahead of the season.
“This has absolutely fired me up for more. I just want to get back in and get mileage — this is just the start.”
Cadillac’s Road to 2026
Earlier in the week, Perez and Bottas had both visited the team’s base to finalise technical preparations, including seat fittings and simulator work.
Cadillac’s shakedown follows a similar approach taken by Audi, which recently ran its first filming day after taking over the Sauber team ahead of its own 2026 entry.
According to Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss, the Silverstone test represents a major milestone rather than a finish line.
“Watching the car roll out of the garage is a moment of pride,” Towriss said.
“The first laps mark the culmination of thousands of hours of work. This is just the beginning as we push toward Melbourne and beyond.”
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Final Thoughts
Cadillac’s Silverstone shakedown may have been low-key by design, but its significance cannot be overstated. The first laps of a brand-new Formula 1 team always mark a turning point — and for Cadillac, the journey to the 2026 grid is now well and truly underway.
With experienced drivers, growing infrastructure, and a global reveal just weeks away, the countdown to Cadillac’s F1 debut has officially begun.