Cadillac Racing has introduced a series of technical updates to its MAC-26 car ahead of the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix, aiming to improve pace and address tyre degradation and cooling challenges. The package includes modifications to the floor and sidepods, designed to enhance aerodynamic efficiency and reduce the strain on tyres under the expected hot conditions at the Red Bull Ring.
The updates feature a redesigned floor and sidepod layout, with a clearer undercut on the sidepods and internal repackaging to improve cooling airflow. Aerodynamic refinements such as serrations on the engine cover fin have also been added. These changes target better downforce generation while managing tyre wear, a critical factor given the track temperatures forecast to exceed 50°C during the race weekend.
Cadillac Racing’s driver Valtteri Bottas reported that the new floor contributed to improved pace and consistency, noting the car was nearly a second faster than Aston Martin in qualifying despite some reliability setbacks. However, Bottas experienced issues with sparking and burning on the front floor tray caused by a build error, while teammate Sergio Perez faced electrical problems that limited his running during practice sessions.
The Austrian Grand Prix will serve as a significant test for Cadillac’s tyre management and brake cooling capabilities, areas where the team has faced challenges. Bottas highlighted the importance of the race conditions in evaluating how well the updates perform under thermal stress. The team has been working to close the performance gap to midfield rivals, with Cadillac narrowing the distance to Mercedes from 5.205% at the start of the season to 3.721% in Austria, bringing it closer to teams like Williams and Haas.
McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella described the MAC-26 as the most significantly upgraded car so far this season, underscoring the scale of the changes Cadillac has implemented. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez expressed a more cautious view, noting that limited running due to technical issues has restricted the team’s ability to fully assess the updates and that further work is needed to close the gap to competitors.
These developments reflect Cadillac Racing’s focused effort to improve its competitiveness through targeted aerodynamic and cooling enhancements. The results from the Austrian Grand Prix will provide clearer insight into how effectively the new package addresses the team’s key performance challenges, particularly in managing tyre degradation and cooling under demanding conditions.
