Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed the Scuderia has given two testing of a previous car [TPC] days to new engine customers Cadillac, as the team prepares to join the grid.<\/p>\n
Sergio Perez is set for two days behind the wheel of a 2023 Ferrari model at Imola in the coming weeks, as he prepares to return to the Formula 1 grid after a year on the sidelines.<\/p>\n
Ferrari boss identifies Cadillac issue with \u2018huge challenge\u2019 ahead<\/p>\n
Cadillac will be using Ferrari power units for the first two years the American marque is on the grid, creating its own engine with a scheduled rollout of the 2028 season.<\/p>\n
With that in mind, the team has also been getting up and running with different processes as it begins life as Formula 1\u2019s 11th team next season, having run through a full simulation of the Italian Grand Prix<\/a> weekend as live, acting and reacting in the moment to prepare its own processes for arriving on the grid.<\/p>\n The team will have a distinct lack of on-track running before its own testing debut in January, but Perez confirmed he will be taking the wheel of a Ferrari to give Cadillac vital mileage ahead of the team launching its own car next year, with Vasseur acknowledging the size of the task in front of them.<\/p>\n When asked for his thoughts about Perez testing in a Ferrari, Vasseur clarified to media including PlanetF1.com: \u201cNo, no \u2013 it\u2019s that we gave two of our TPC test days to Cadillac.<\/p>\n More on how next season\u2019s grid is taking shape<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0F1 2026 driver line-up: Who is already confirmed for the 2026 grid?<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0Revealed: Nine races that have shaped the F1 2025 title battle so far<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI think the challenge for them is huge. Ayao [Komatsu, Haas team principal] started a new [testing] team a couple of years ago, and when it\u2019s not for me to\u2026 The issue is not too much about the car, I would say.<\/p>\n \u201cStrangely, it\u2019s more the logistics \u2013 the setup of the garage, the infrastructure, the IT systems, and so on, and I think it\u2019s a good test for them to put everything in place.\u201d<\/p>\n Perez\u2019s 2026 teammate, Valtteri Bottas, has recently been behind the wheel of a Mercedes as he took in 112 laps of Pirelli tyre testing<\/a> in Mexico City this week, with it as yet unconfirmed whether or not the Finn will have any more running with the Silver Arrows before the end of the year.<\/p>\n For former Red Bull driver Perez, while training helps him stay in shape, he explained how there is no real substitute for driving a Formula 1 car, as he prepares for his own return to the grid.<\/p>\n Speaking at a recent football match in Mexico, he said: \u201cAs much as I train, I need to have time, kilometres in the car, because in the end, they are very specific exercises and muscles that you train in the car.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to have two days in Imola, which is going to help me a lot. But, we\u2019re doing well [in preparation].<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll be very useful because we\u2019ll be able to work with the mechanics and engineers to have the whole team ready for the testing program that begins in January \u2013 very early in the year \u2013 where we\u2019ll already be at 100 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1, and much more!<\/p>\n