Sergio Perez acknowledged that the Barcelona circuit highlighted Cadillac's weaknesses, as the team struggled with overheating and tyre issues. Valtteri Bottas retired early, while Perez finished well behind the leaders.
Sergio Perez has candidly acknowledged that the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya laid bare the areas where Cadillac is falling short. The team faced significant challenges with the high temperatures and fast corners, culminating in a tough weekend under the Spanish sun.
Valtteri Bottas' race came to an abrupt end after just 15 laps due to overheating, having already encountered a brake issue in practice that saw him take an unplanned detour into the gravel at Turn 10, causing a red flag. "We had to stop the car as a precaution," Bottas explained, lamenting the short race from his starting position of P20, right behind Perez. "It was a tough weekend with many issues, but on the plus side, the pit stop was great, and we seemed a bit closer in qualifying, though race pace still needs work."
Meanwhile, Perez managed to see the chequered flag, finishing P14, three laps adrift, due to ongoing struggles with tyre management and overall pace. Missing FP1 due to reserve driver Colton Herta's rookie session didn't help his preparations. "The start wasn't easy with a lot of wheel spin, and though we recovered some positions on Lap 1, we spent the first stint chasing Alex Albon," Perez recounted.
Cadillac's woes were exacerbated by their struggles with the hard tyres and losing ground during lapping. "We always knew Barcelona would highlight what we're lacking," Perez noted, adding that the weekend confirmed their suspicions about the car's deficiencies. "We have a pretty good idea of what's happening and now need to work on it."
While the weekend was a bit of a slog for Cadillac, the team has identified areas to focus on, offering a glimmer of hope for future improvements.