Cadillac’s drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas have shared their reflections on the challenges they faced during the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, marking an important moment in the team’s debut season in Formula 1®. Despite showing signs of progress, the weekend highlighted ongoing hurdles related to pace and reliability.
At Zandvoort on August 23, 2026, Sergio Perez finished the race in 15th position. He noted that the car’s pace had improved significantly following setup changes, especially when he was able to run in clean air away from traffic. However, Perez acknowledged that the team still needed to find roughly half a second to a full second per lap to match the midfield competitors. Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas was forced to retire with 11 laps remaining due to a hydraulic issue, marking his sixth retirement in 12 races this season. Bottas described the car’s behaviour as inconsistent throughout the race and emphasized the importance of learning from these difficulties.
Cadillac remains without points in their first Formula 1® season, while rivals Aston Martin extended their lead in the team standings at the Dutch Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso secured ninth place for Aston Martin, earning two points and widening the gap between the two teams.
Perez expressed cautious optimism about the car’s development, highlighting that the improved pace after setup adjustments was encouraging. He pointed out that once clear of traffic, the car felt much better, though it still lagged behind the midfield pack. This suggests that while progress is being made, Cadillac has yet to reach a competitive level that would allow them to challenge for points regularly.
Bottas’s race was hampered by a hydraulic failure, which forced him to retire late in the event. This added to a series of reliability issues he has faced this season, with six retirements out of twelve races. He also mentioned that the car’s inconsistent behaviour made it difficult to maintain a steady rhythm, underlining the challenges Cadillac faces in stabilising their performance during race conditions.
The Dutch Grand Prix results underscored the gap between Cadillac and established midfield teams, with Aston Martin’s Alonso finishing in the points and extending his team’s advantage. This context highlights the competitive environment in which Cadillac is trying to establish itself, balancing the demands of development and reliability in a highly competitive field.
Both drivers agreed that the weekend offered valuable lessons that could help the team improve as the season progresses. While the pace improvements are a positive sign, the ongoing reliability concerns and the need to close the performance gap remain key issues for Cadillac to address in their maiden Formula 1® campaign.