Checo Pérez is already fully immersed in this adventure with Cadillac in F1. Recently, they finished the preseason testing in Bahrain, and the Mexican driver didn’t hold back: he knew the start was going to be tough. In the last session on Friday, Checo posted a 1:40.842 in 61 laps, finishing tenth, almost 9 seconds behind Leclerc, who was the fastest. The numbers don’t look spectacular, but the guy is calm about the progress.

What’s interesting is what he said after releasing the steering wheel. Checo mentioned that the car’s balance feels good and that they have improved quite a bit in each test. Of course, it’s Cadillac’s first year in F1, so everything is in constant development. The point he highlights is that they are doing a huge number of kilometers, which has been the most important thing for them. “We knew it was going to be a very tough start, but what matters is how quickly we develop from here,” Checo explained.

The team’s strategy is clear: during the first half of the season, they need to lay the groundwork to be able to compete against McLaren and Red Bull, which dominated in previous years. The challenge is massive because they have to develop more than the teams ahead of them. Both Checo and Bottas are helping identify improvements, and hopefully they’ll be able to close the gap to the front soon. The debut in Australia is just around the corner, and Pérez is ready to start the 2026 season.