Perez to Test Ferrari Ahead of Cadillac F1 Return

Sports

Sergio Perez is set to return to the cockpit ahead of his highly anticipated comeback with the Cadillac F1 Team in 2026. The Mexican driver will take part in a private two-day test using a 2023 Ferrari chassis, as part of Cadillac’s partnership with Ferrari for power unit and gearbox components in their debut Formula 1 season.

The test, scheduled to take place in England next month, will mark Perez’s first time back in an F1 car since his departure from Red Bull at the end of the 2024 season. Beforehand, he will undergo simulator sessions and physical conditioning in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Cadillac’s F1 operations are based. Perez said the focus is on regaining his physical readiness, especially in adapting his neck and core strength to F1’s extreme demands.

“I need to start preparing early to be ready for next year,” Perez said. “This test is not just about getting comfortable again but understanding how we can work together as a new team.”

The Ferrari-run test falls under Formula 1’s “Testing Previous Cars” regulation, which allows new entrants to use older machinery for training and procedural development. For Cadillac, this opportunity is vital to rehearse race weekend routines, pit-stop procedures, and team communication before building and running their own 2026 challenger.

The test also offers Perez an early chance to reconnect with on-track dynamics and to provide technical feedback that will shape Cadillac’s first car. After a difficult final season with Red Bull, Perez has described this new chapter as one focused on rebuilding and collaboration. “It’s not about proving anything anymore,” he said. “It’s about helping Cadillac grow into a competitive team.”

Cadillac’s preparations are well underway, with engineers and mechanics already undergoing training programs in both the United States and Europe. The team aims to establish itself as a serious contender from its first season, and Perez’s experience will be crucial in guiding the process.

With the test set to begin in a few weeks, all eyes will be on Perez and Cadillac as they take their first tangible steps toward Formula 1 competition in 2026 — a moment marking both a new challenge for Perez and a historic entry for Cadillac into the pinnacle of motorsport.