Cadillac F1 Chases Pace Upgrade for Miami Race

Sergio Perez admits team needs to find over a second per lap to compete

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:55pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a Formula 1 car in motion, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors, conveying the technical complexity and high-stakes nature of Cadillac's performance challenges in the sport.Cadillac's Formula 1 team faces a daunting pace deficit, requiring a bold upgrade gamble to close the gap to the frontrunners.Today in Miami

Cadillac's Formula 1 team is facing a significant pace deficit, with driver Sergio Perez acknowledging they need to find over a second per lap to be competitive. The team is pinning its hopes on a major upgrade package for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, but there are concerns that they may be misdiagnosing the root cause of their performance issues.

Why it matters

Cadillac's struggle reflects broader trends in Formula 1, where midfield teams are in a constant battle to close the gap to the frontrunners. The team's reliance on a 'significant upgrade package' for Miami is a high-stakes gamble, as upgrades in F1 can either transform a car or make it worse. Cadillac's situation also underscores the psychological toll of competing in such a brutally competitive sport.

The details

Perez finished 27 seconds behind the leaders at the Suzuka race, losing roughly a second per lap. He noted that other teams were able to maintain their pace lap after lap, while Cadillac struggled. This suggests the issue may not be purely aerodynamic, but rather a more systemic problem in their development process. Perez's comments about deployment strategies also hint at potential issues with Cadillac's race strategy.

  • Cadillac is set to bring a major upgrade package to the Miami Grand Prix on April 30, 2026.

The players

Sergio Perez

A Mexican racing driver who currently competes in Formula 1 for the Cadillac team.

Carlos Sainz

A Spanish racing driver who currently competes in Formula 1 for the Ferrari team.

Franco Colapinto

An Argentine racing driver who currently competes in Formula 1 for the Williams team.

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What they’re saying

“We need to find a second per lap to be able to compete.”

— Sergio Perez, Cadillac F1 Driver

What’s next

Cadillac's performance at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix on April 30, 2026 will be a crucial test of their ability to close the pace deficit with their major upgrade package.

The takeaway

Cadillac's struggle to keep pace in Formula 1 is a reminder that success in the sport is not guaranteed, even for well-resourced teams. Their reliance on a major upgrade for the Miami race is a high-stakes gamble, as they seek to address the root causes of their performance issues and not just the symptoms.