Cadillac shows promise despite suspension failure in Montreal
It is hard to believe that we are only five races into the Cadillac Formula 1 project. Despite a frustrating suspension failure for Sergio Perez during Sunday's Grand Prix, Team Principal Graeme Lowdon insists the trajectory for the Silverstone-based squad is firmly upward. The team is navigating the brutal learning curve of Grand Prix racing, and while the suspension issue was a very public hiccup, Lowdon has labeled the event an "easily preventable" combination of circumstances that should not happen again.
There were genuine sparks of potential throughout the weekend. Sergio Perez was brilliant in the Sprint, crossing the line P11 after a masterclass in defensive driving that left him feeling invigorated. He also came within 0.130s of reaching Q2 in Sprint Qualifying—a massive leap forward for the team. For Valtteri Bottas, however, the weekend was a slog; he struggled with persistent balance issues and oversteer throughout the sessions, eventually finishing P16 in the main event after a gamble on intermediate tyres failed to pay off for the team.
Looking ahead to Monaco, there is a sense of cautious anticipation. Perez, a former winner at the circuit, believes the team is finding its feet, while Bottas is hopeful that a fresh batch of upgrades will help them find the performance they need to be competitive. It is still a work in progress, but as Lowdon noted, they are finally fighting in new territory.
