The American team remains without a point after the opening nine rounds of its debut campaign, but arrives at its first Belgian Grand Prix believing it has begun to close the gap to its more established rivals.
Both Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas completed the sprint and grand prix distances at Silverstone last weekend, providing a much-needed response after brake fires forced both cars out in Austria.
Team principal Graeme Lowdon was particularly encouraged by Cadillac’s ability to move away from the rear of the field and compete more closely with other teams during the British Grand Prix.
“The British Grand Prix was a very positive weekend for us,” Lowdon said.
“Completing the full grand prix and sprint distances at the end of a double-header was another step forward in our development and I want to thank the whole of the team.
“Most pleasing, however, was that we were able to pull away from the back of the grid and race hard against some of the other teams.
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“We would like more of that this weekend in Belgium.”
Silverstone ended a run of three consecutive grands prix without a finish for Bottas, although the Finn conceded Cadillac remains caught between the back of the grid and the midfield teams it is attempting to chase.
“Lots of good information, but it’s still pretty clear that we’re in a little bit of a no man’s land over there,” Bottas said at Silverstone.
“But we seemed at times a bit closer to Haas or the Williams.”
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Cadillac is the seventh completely new outfit to enter F1 since the beginning of 2000, with only Toyota and Haas scoring during their opening nine races.
Both achieved that feat on debut, while Super Aguri, Virgin, Lotus and HRT each completed their maiden seasons without a point.
Bottas’ 13th-place finish in China remains Cadillac’s best result, while Perez came closest to scoring when he crossed the line 10th in Monaco before a post-race penalty dropped him out of the points and handed the position to its closest rival so far in 2026, Aston Martin.
Cadillac is now banking on its revised front wing to help narrow the margin to Aston Martin at Spa, continuing an update program that has produced signs of improvement despite several reliability setbacks.
The team has recorded six retirements across its first nine races, equal to the number suffered by Lotus at the same stage of its debut campaign in 2010 and fewer than Toyota, Super Aguri, Virgin and HRT managed in their maiden seasons.
Of Formula 1’s newcomers since 2000, Haas recorded the fewest retirements across its opening nine races with three.
Spa presents a vastly different challenge to Silverstone, with its 7km layout combining long straights, high-speed corners, considerable elevation changes and notoriously unpredictable weather.
Perez has 14 previous Belgian Grand Prix starts, including two podium finishes and three front-row appearances, and believes the circuit will offer an important test of Cadillac’s latest developments.
“After good, competitive performances at Silverstone, we’re ready for Spa, which is a very different challenge from every other circuit on the calendar,” Perez said.
“Not only is it much longer, your heart always beats a little faster there.
“It is a very high-speed circuit, and unusual in that it has negative-g when you go through the Eau Rouge compression.
“It is going to be interesting for energy management and ride, plus tire management, so we will make this a focus of our attention on Friday, as well as analyzing the developments we will bring.”
Bottas has three podium finishes from 12 appearances at Spa and said confidence in the car will be essential through the circuit’s fastest sections.
“We will have to work hard this weekend to maximize our potential,” he said.
“We think of Spa as being all about speed, but really, it’s more balanced than that. It’s a circuit where the driver really needs confidence in the car to commit in the fastest corners, and to run the kerbs at high-speed.
“We’ve been doing a huge amount of work at the factory to ensure we turn-up this weekend with a good baseline set-up, that will enable us to get the most out of practice and progress from there.”
While Cadillac continues working to improve its current car, Perez said he believes the team is also entering a decisive phase in the planning of its 2027 challenger.
The Mexican said the coming months would help determine Cadillac’s longer-term direction as it continues establishing the structures required to compete consistently in F1.
“I think being a new team gives you massive challenges, but also big opportunities,” Perez said at Silverstone.
“We have very experienced people who have done it before.
“Obviously the whole team wants to see more progress in all areas and more structure, so we are in that process of structuring everything out.
“Being a new team, there are so many challenges. We seem to be facing those issues that other teams are facing.
“We are in a proper fight, and trying to structure our team as best as possible.”
With major decisions approaching for next season, Perez identified the next stage of the campaign as particularly significant for the team.
“We are at a critical stage where I think the next two, three months are critical in our future, in terms of development into next year’s ideas and decisions that the team needs to take for next year,” Perez said.
“Now it’s a very critical period for our team.”
FP1 for the Belgian Grand Prix gets underway at 9.30pm AEST on Friday.
2026 F1 Belgian Grand Prix – Schedule, how to watch, TV times & more
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