Perez and Cadillac’s First 2026 Shakedown Brings Raw Emotion and a New Beginning
There are moments in motorsport when the garage goes quiet, and everyone present knows they’re witnessing the start of something bigger than a test run. That’s exactly what happened when Cadillac’s 2026 Formula 1 challenger rolled out for its first shakedown, with Perez behind the wheel.
The run wasn’t just a systems check. It was a statement and a sign that Cadillac’s long‑anticipated entry into the sport is no longer a concept, but a living, breathing machine. For Perez, the moment carried a weight he didn’t try to hide.
The team radio captured the emotion in his voice, the kind that comes from months of preparation and the pressure of representing a manufacturer stepping into a new era. Cadillac’s arrival has been one of the most talked‑about storylines in the paddock, and this first run gave everyone a glimpse of what the American brand intends to bring to the grid.
A Shakedown That Felt Like a Milestone
Cadillac’s first laps weren’t meant to break records or chase lap times. Shakedowns rarely are. But this one carried a different kind of energy. The team had spent months building toward this moment, and when the car finally rolled out, the garage felt the shift.
Engineers leaned in a little closer. Crew members stopped what they were doing. And Perez, sitting strapped into a car representing a new chapter for the sport, felt the magnitude of it.The radio messages told the story.
His voice carried a mix of relief, excitement, and pride, the kind of tone you hear from a driver who knows he’s part of something that will be remembered. Cadillac’s entry into Formula 1 isn’t just another team joining the grid. It’s a manufacturer with deep racing roots stepping into the world’s biggest stage with something to prove.
Perez’s First Impressions Behind the Wheel
When Perez took the car out for its first laps, he wasn’t just evaluating performance. He was feeling out the identity of a machine that will define Cadillac’s future in the sport. The new regulations coming in 2026 have reshaped the way teams approach design. And Cadillac’s interpretation of the rulebook has been one of the most anticipated. Perez’s feedback reflected that.
He spoke about the car with the kind of honesty that comes from experience, noting differences in power delivery, handling characteristics, and early signs of potential. He didn’t oversell it, but he didn’t hide his optimism either. The car had life. It had direction. And it had the foundation of something Cadillac can build on.
Inside the Garage: A Team That Felt the Moment
The atmosphere inside the Cadillac garage said as much as anything happening on track. This wasn’t a group going through the motions. This was a team that had poured everything into reaching this day. The shakedown wasn’t just a technical step. It was a release, a moment where months of pressure finally gave way to pride.
Crew members watched the monitors with a different kind of intensity. Engineers listened to the radio with the focus of people who had lived and breathed this project. And when Perez brought the car back in, the reaction wasn’t quite professional. It was emotion. It was relief. It was the realization that Cadillac’s Formula 1 journey had officially begun.
A New Era, New Rules, and New Challenges
The 2026 regulations have reshaped the sport, and Cadillac is stepping into Formula 1 at a time when the playing field is being rewritten. That’s both a challenge and an opportunity. Perez knows the early months will be filled with learning, adapting, and figuring out how to get the most out of a car built under a brand‑new rulebook.
But he also knows that every team is starting from the same place. The teams that adapt fastest will rise first. And Cadillac, with its resources, ambition, and fresh perspective, has a chance to surprise people.
What This Means
Cadillac’s first shakedown wasn’t about speed. It was about identity. It was about proving that the team is ready to take its place in Formula 1. And for Perez, it was a reminder of why he’s here to lead, to develop, and to help shape a program that carries the weight of a manufacturer with something to prove. This moment wasn’t just a test run. It was the beginning of a story that would unfold over the next decade.
What’s Next
Cadillac’s first steps into the 2026 season were filled with emotion, pride, and a sense of purpose. Perez delivered the kind of leadership a new team needs, and the garage responded with the kind of passion that can’t be faked. If this shakedown is any indication, Cadillac isn’t entering Formula 1 quietly. They’re entering with heart, ambition, and a driver ready to guide them into a new era.
