Cadillac

F1 2026Overall Rating: 2.3/10

Valtteri Bottas

Current +0.27 · Form 0.00

Sergio Perez

Current +0.26 · Form 0.00

Qualifying Base

2.5

Race Base

2.8

Car Attributes

Qualifying Pace

2.5

Race Pace

2.8

Peak Downforce

2.4

High-Speed Corners

2.0

Low-Speed Corners

2.0

Straight-Line Speed

3.5

Active Aero Efficiency

2.0

Tyre Degradation Mgmt

2.5

Traction

2.2

Braking Stability

2.2

Ride Quality

2.5

Energy Recovery

2.8

Reliability

2.8

Cadillac has entered Formula 1 as a new manufacturer and the 2026 car reflects the difficulty of that undertaking. The TWC26's overall rating sits level with Aston Martin at the bottom of the grid, and no individual attribute rises to a level that could be called competitive. This is a car being developed in real time across a race season, which means the trajectory of improvement matters as much as the current snapshot. Perez and Bottas bring genuine experience managing competitive disadvantage, which will be tested consistently through the season.

Detailed Analysis

A new constructor entering the sport typically faces a development lag that takes multiple seasons to close. Cadillac has built a car with consistent weaknesses across every performance dimension rather than isolated failures in specific areas. There is no circuit layout where the TWC26 can expect to find a structural advantage, because the weaknesses are distributed across all performance categories. What the team can control is reliability and strategy, and both experienced drivers will push to minimize unnecessary losses through preparation and race management when pure pace is unavailable.

Perez and Bottas are well-matched in offset terms, both carrying modest but positive contributions above the car's baseline. Neither driver will transform Cadillac's position in 2026, but both bring the tactical intelligence to capitalize on opportunities: attrition races, unusual weather, safety car windows that occasionally present themselves even to cars at the back of the grid. The most realistic prediction framework for Cadillac in 2026 is consistent lower-grid finishing positions, with occasional points finishes when race circumstances produce chaos ahead of them, and a development curve that should show some measurable improvement by the second half of the season.

Development Timeline

Round 0Pre-Season

3.3

Pre-season baseline — brand new 11th team, Ferrari customer PU

race Pace 0.0traction -2.0quali Pace 0.0reliability -1.5ride Quality -1.8peak Downforce -2.0energy Recovery -1.5low Speed Corners -1.8tyre Degradation -1.7braking Stability -1.8high Speed Corners -2.0straight Line Speed -0.8active Aero Efficiency -2.0

F1's first new team entry in years. Bottas's fastest time was 3.3s off the best (The Race), but Cadillac was 'not in cut-adrift or last-place territory' which was a relief. Managed 1,700+ km in testing, focused on refining balance and setup. Ferrari customer PU provides some straightLineSpeed (4.2) and energyRecovery (3.5) uplift — Bottas clocked 310.2 km/h at Melbourne FP1 speed trap (3rd fastest, FIA data), showing decent PU straight-line potential despite the weak chassis. Double Q1 exit at Melbourne, Perez P16, Bottas DNF. Perez (offset -0.3, effective 3.0) and Bottas (offset -0.2, effective 3.1) are both returning drivers after time away from F1, adding to the challenge. 'Cadillac's main weakness' was overall aero downforce deficit (Motorsport.com).

Australian Grand PrixBaseline

2.3

Round 1 baseline — by far the slowest, debut team struggles with pace and reliability

race Pace -0.8traction -0.8quali Pace -0.6reliability -1.0ride Quality -0.7peak Downforce -0.8energy Recovery -0.7low Speed Corners -1.2tyre Degradation -0.8braking Stability -1.0high Speed Corners -1.0straight Line Speed -0.7active Aero Efficiency -1.0

Clear backmarker. Perez P18 (+4.087 from pole), Bottas P19 (+4.726) in Q1. Race pace 87.738 (+4.240) — 2+ seconds slower than next-worst. 'Visibly nervous in technical sections Turns 12-14.' Bottas retired L15 (fuel system), triggering VSC. Perez FP1 fuel system + FP2 hydraulic leak. Bottas 307.7 km/h quali speed trap (4th!) shows Ferrari PU baseline speed despite weak chassis. Sources: Motorsport.com, Speedcafe, The Race, FIA speed trap PDFs.

Chinese Grand PrixWeekend Final

2.3

Round 2 — first two-car finish, genuine progress, diffuser upgrade

race Pace +0.3quali Pace -0.1reliability +0.2peak Downforce +0.1

Historic milestone: Cadillac's first two-car finish in F1 (Bottas P13, Perez P15). Started from the back of the grid and raced established teams throughout. Diffuser winglet cascade upgrade provides small aero benefit. Race pace 3.613s off Mercedes is still distant but improved from R1 gap. Bottas sustained floor damage from Perez collision but completed race distance. Ferrari PU running reliably in Cadillac package. Sources: Formula1.com, The Race, Cadillac.

Japanese Grand PrixWeekend Final

2.3

Round 3 — first lead-lap finish (Perez P17), beats both Aston Martins, new diffuser

race Pace +0.0quali Pace +0.1reliability +0.1peak Downforce +0.1

Perez P17 was Cadillac's first lead-lap finish in a Grand Prix — a milestone. Beat both Aston Martins. Bottas P19 (+1 lap). Race pace +3.283s (faster than Aston Martin's +3.668s). New diffuser (fence redesign + central optimization). Speed trap 329 km/h (7th, Ferrari PU). Both cars finished. Sources: GPFans, Formula1.com, ReadMotorsport upgrades, FastF1 data.