Cadillac's Team Principal, Graeme Lowdon, noted significant strides by the team during their fifth race weekend in Canada. Despite mechanical setbacks, the team showed promise, particularly with Sergio Perez's performance.
Cadillac's debut season in Formula 1 is showing signs of promise, according to Team Principal Graeme Lowdon. At the Canadian Grand Prix, the team, in just its fifth race weekend, managed to show some fight despite inevitable teething problems. Sergio Perez's weekend was a mixed bag. He impressed during the Sprint by battling with cars that should have been faster, finishing P11 before a penalty nudged him down. But Sunday's Grand Prix exposed a weak point, as a suspension failure forced a premature end to his race. Lowdon remains optimistic, acknowledging the steep learning curve for the new team, "This is only our fifth weekend of Grand Prix racing, so we're doing so many things for the first time that other teams have been doing for a long, long time."
Perez's performance in Sprint Qualifying was noteworthy, placing P17 and narrowly missing Q2. His aggressive drive earned him a 10-second penalty after a tussle with Liam Lawson, but Perez was pleased with his form, saying, "I'm very happy with my performances, with my level of driving." Valtteri Bottas, meanwhile, had a tough time adjusting to changes made to his car after Friday's discomfort, resulting in an inconsistent performance.
Both drivers faced a strategic blunder by opting for intermediate tyres at the start of the Grand Prix, a decision shared by McLaren, Audi, and Carlos Sainz. This gamble necessitated early pit stops. Perez reflected on the choice, "It was really hard to choose a tyre, and then...it was a lot clearer for the slick tyre." Despite the setback, Perez managed a spirited battle with Haas's Esteban Ocon before his mechanical issue.
Lowdon reassured that the suspension problem seems to be a one-off, "It's just a particular scenario, a particular chain of events from what I've seen." Bottas finished in P16, struggling with balance and set-up issues that left him frustrated. "The car was over-rotating everywhere," he lamented.
Despite these challenges, Lowdon emphasized the team's progress, "In terms of race pace, accuracy of upgrade predictions...we just saw some real steps forward." Looking ahead to Monaco, a track where Perez has previously triumphed, there is cautious optimism. "It's one of those races where defending is fairly easy," Bottas noted, hopeful of capitalizing on the unique circuit. As Cadillac continues its F1 journey, each race brings new lessons and opportunities for growth.