The Imola circuit in Italy, a cathedral of speed and the scene of countless Formula 1 dramas, recently played host to an event that was part secret rendezvous, part high-stakes dress rehearsal. Over two critical days, the familiar howl of a Scuderia engine echoed through the storied track, but the sight behind the wheel was anything but ordinary. There, piloting a plain, blacked-out 2023-spec Ferrari, was Sergio Perez, the veteran Mexican driver, making his highly anticipated, and deeply symbolic, return to Formula 1 machinery.

This test was not for Ferrari, however. It was the first major on-track operational activity for the nascent Cadillac F1 team, providing a fascinating, and intensely scrutinized, glimpse into how the American giant is tackling the monumental task of preparing for its 2026 debut. The sheer audacity of the operation—a driver recently separated from the Red Bull juggernaut, driving a rival team’s car, all in the service of a brand-new entrant—has sent palpable ripples of curiosity and speculation across the entire motorsport world. This wasn’t just a shakedown; it was the first, tangible declaration that Cadillac’s dream is accelerating from blueprint to reality, and in the process, setting a confident baseline that has already stunned onlookers.

The Strategic Master Stroke: Why A Ferrari?

The most immediate question on the minds of fans and pundits was the curious marriage of an American powerhouse and the Prancing Horse. Why was Cadillac, a team with its sights set on the future, utilizing a two-year-old Ferrari? The answer lies in the unforgiving intricacies of Formula 1 regulations.

As a brand-new team, Cadillac does not possess its own two-year-old car, which is the standard equipment permitted for testing under the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) rules. To navigate this technical hurdle, Cadillac executed what can only be described as a strategic master stroke: a partnership with Ferrari, securing an agreement that will see the legendary Italian marque supply them with crucial components—engines, gearboxes, and suspension—for the initial years of their campaign. This strategic alliance allowed Cadillac to gain access to a 2023-spec Ferrari SF-23, a proven piece of machinery that served as the perfect platform for their own operational baptism by fire.

Cadillac Team Principal Graeme Lden was clear about the test’s true focus, articulating a philosophy that cuts straight to the heart of what makes a competitive Formula 1 team. “We’re not testing the car. We’re testing the people,” he stated unequivocally . The purpose was not to chase fast lap times or break circuit records; it was to pressure-test the crucial human element.

This two-day session was a massive logistical operation, blending cultures and expertise. Approximately 20 Cadillac personnel—from engineers to mechanics—worked side-by-side with 30 experienced staff members from Ferrari’s own test team. After months of sterile practice in the simulator, this was the first chance for the Cadillac crew to operate in a live, high-pressure, track environment—performing crucial pit stops, making real-time setup changes, and analyzing data under the strict gaze of a ticking clock. The goal, Lden emphasized, was to ensure their mechanics and engineers could quickly “start talking the same language” , building the bedrock of communication and trust essential for success in the high-octane world of Grand Prix racing.

Perez’s Emotional Resurrection and Superhuman Feat

For Sergio Perez, the Imola test was far more than a job; it was a critical step in his emotional and professional return to Formula 1. After his much-publicized parting of ways with Red Bull at the close of the 2024 season, the 35-year-old took his first significant break from the sport in nearly two decades. This test marked his first time in an F1 car in almost a year.

Before the test, Perez had admitted to a natural curiosity, and perhaps a touch of apprehension, about his physical condition, joking, “I’m curious, you know, to find out how many laps my neck will do before it gets destroyed” [02:00:84].

The results of the test, however, were nothing short of impressive, providing a decisive answer to any lingering doubts about his fitness or motivation. Over the two days, Perez completed a colossal 190 laps, totaling 933 kilometers of running —an exceptional distance that would be a strenuous workout for a driver in the prime of a racing season, let alone one returning from a break. He ran 99 laps on Thursday and an additional 91 on Friday, demonstrating not only a remarkable level of physical fitness but also an intense, almost single-minded, determination to integrate with his new team immediately.

While the primary focus was operational readiness, the lap times still provided a compelling point of discussion that hints at Perez’s underlying pace. His best reported lap time was a 1 minute 18.822 seconds. When unofficially compared to Charles Leclerc’s 2022 dry practice benchmark of 1 minute 19.74 seconds in a similar-era Ferrari ground effect car, Perez’s time—in an unfamiliar two-year-old car and without pushing for performance—was nearly a second faster. This suggests a solid, immediately competitive baseline that defies the team’s insistence on not chasing limits, underscoring Perez’s inherent speed and the value of his experience.

Perez himself was overtly positive, highlighting the importance of reconnecting with the car and the team dynamics. “It’s a great test and a great way to finish the year before getting back in the car next year,” he said [03:13:92], emphasizing the value of sitting down with engineers and mechanics to immediately build a shared vocabulary and mutual understanding. This early integration is vital for establishing the communication channels needed to develop a competitive car under pressure.

The True Enemy: Time and the Compressed Timeline

The successful Imola test is just the beginning of what is an extraordinarily tight and unforgiving schedule for Cadillac. Team Principal Lden revealed the team’s entry was only officially confirmed in March 2025, leaving them with an unprecedentedly small window to prepare for the 2026 debut.

“Time is the enemy in a project like this,” Lden admitted [03:45:90], facing a deadline that simply “can’t be extended”—the first week of March 2026 in Melbourne.

The team has set audacious, near-impossible goals to meet this deadline. Their plan involves firing up the engine of their very own 2026 car for the first time before Christmas this year . Following that, the first official track run of the actual Cadillac F1 car is slated for January 2026, just weeks before the official preseason test in Barcelona at the end of that same month [04:08:74]. Every day, every component, and every decision between now and Melbourne is absolutely crucial.

Cadillac is entering the sport at a time of major regulatory upheaval, specifically the seismic shift expected with the 2026 power unit and chassis rules. Lden views this regulatory reset not just as a challenge, but as an enormous opportunity. “The advantage for us is that with this major regulation change all teams face a new challenge including ours. No one knows where they’ll be,” he explained [04:22:92].

While Cadillac has a steep hill to climb against established powerhouses, they also benefit from a “clean slate.” They are not shackled to any previous car concepts or a rigid corporate structure, allowing for nimble, fresh design thinking.

The Veteran Duo: A Statement of Intent

Cadillac’s commitment to hitting the ground running is most evident in their driver lineup. Pairing Sergio Perez with Valterri Bottas gives Cadillac one of the most experienced duos on the entire Formula 1 grid , with a combined total of over 500 Grand Prix starts.

This wealth of experience is not merely a number; it’s a strategic asset. Drivers like Perez and Bottas, who have raced for top-tier teams and understand car development from the ground up, will be invaluable in guiding a new operation through the inevitable teething problems and setup complexities of a first-season car. Perez, in particular, has always been recognized as a driver who can extract performance from challenging machinery, having excelled at teams like Force India by punching above the car’s theoretical weight [05:59:75]. His knowledge on how to work with engineers to evolve a car over a season—a skill that cannot be taught in a simulator—will be one of Cadillac’s greatest competitive advantages.

Conclusion: The Race Against Zero

Ultimately, the Imola test was a resounding and multifaceted success. It allowed Cadillac to strategically validate its technical partnership with Ferrari, securing a reliable power unit package that frees the team to focus solely on chassis development. More importantly, it successfully pressure-tested the people—building team chemistry, honing operational procedures, and ensuring the complex dance between mechanics and engineers was synchronized.

For Sergio Perez, it was a profound personal milestone: a triumphant return that showcased his physical and mental readiness for a fresh challenge. His 190 laps and highly competitive pace served notice to the paddock that he is not just back, but back with purpose and speed.

The initial question about Cadillac’s F1 entry has now shifted. It is no longer if they can enter, but how competitive they can truly be from day one . With less than 12 months remaining until their Melbourne debut, every subsequent decision, test session, and component firing will be crucial. The confidence gained from Imola, bolstered by an experienced driver pairing and the strategic advantage of the 2026 regulation reset, positions Formula 1’s newest team as a genuinely compelling story—a dark horse racing not just against the grid, but against time itself. This is the race against zero, and based on their first successful outing, Cadillac is starting with a significant lead.