Cadillac F1 board member and 1978 World Champion Mario Andretti has heralded progress already for Formula 1\u2019s newest team.<\/p>\n
According to Andretti, Cadillac\u2019s veteran drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, are still \u201ca bit rusty\u201d, and so are making sure not to unnecessarily add to the team\u2019s workload. A lack of \u201cdownforce, especially rear end stability\u201d is a common complaint, but, Cadillac<\/a> has already halved its deficit between Melbourne and Shanghai.<\/p>\n Mario Andretti praises Cadillac F1 progress<\/p>\n Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for news you can trust.<\/p>\n It was a long road for Cadillac to make it to Formula 1. But, at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, Cadillac F1 made its debut.<\/p>\n In an appearance on the Drive to Wynn podcast, Mario Andretti was asked to sum up the emotions of that huge moment.<\/p>\n \u201cThere had been a lot of anxiety, no question.<\/p>\n \u201cBut at the same time, there we were, and everyone just looking forward from that point, believe it or not, and feeling fortunate to have arrived.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was so much support. The top management from Cadillac was there, which is always welcome.<\/p>\n \u201cBut at the same time, from my standpoint, being around, you know, this is our rodeo, obviously, and I just wanted to see how we looked vis a vis the other teams. And you know something, Cadillac looked like they belong in every way, the presentation and the execution, everything.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a new team, but there\u2019s a lot of experience there, thanks to Graeme Lowdon [team principal] and Pat Symonds [consultant] and individuals like that, that have been there, done that, insiders. And they were able to lure some really good, solid talents from other teams as well.<\/p>\n \u201cI was proud, quite honestly, and very pleased to see them execute. Glitches here and there, but you have to deal with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Bottas scored Cadillac\u2019s best finish yet with 13th at the Chinese Grand Prix, a race in which both cars reached the chequered flag. Perez came home 15th, the last of the classified runners.<\/p>\n Continued progress is the aim of the game for Cadillac F1.<\/p>\n Andretti continued: \u201cSo we got through the first race and the second race was definitely a little bit better in China, both cars finishing, and even now, in the qualifying, respectively, instead of being four seconds off the pace, they were two seconds off the pace, which is a lot, but it\u2019s an improvement.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we\u2019ll be looking to achieve that in every race as we progress through the season.\u201d<\/p>\n Latest Cadillac news from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n Sergio Perez admits blame for Valtteri Bottas collision and jokes \u2018I need a mushroom\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n F1 2026: Head-to-head race statistics between teammates<\/a><\/p>\n Cadillac went for experience in bringing Bottas and Perez back to the grid.<\/p>\n Bottas \u2013 10 times a grand prix winner \u2013 had spent 2025 as Mercedes\u2019 reserve. Six-time grand prix winner Perez spent 2025 fully out of the sport, having lost his Red Bull seat at the end of the previous season.<\/p>\n At this point, both drivers are shaking off the cobwebs, Andretti feels. But, they are already identifying where the team needs to work for improved performance.<\/p>\n \u201cThe main thing that really interests me is, I want to hear from the drivers, and that\u2019s really what it\u2019s all about,\u201d said Andretti.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be honest with you, I think they\u2019re both just a little bit rusty. They\u2019ve both been out of the cockpit for at least one season.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the new package and everything else, they\u2019re being very careful, you know, just to participate, and not set anything back by maybe going out there and creating more work that\u2019s needed.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the initial comments, clearly, I think we\u2019re lacking some downforce, especially rear stability. That\u2019s what I keep hearing from both of them and things like that.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the other side is to totally try to understand how to take advantage of the power unit for what the delivery is, between keeping the battery charge and all that sort of thing.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s not only the problem that we have. We\u2019re not the only ones who have that issue. Outside of, say, Mercedes and Ferrari, it seem like everybody else is searching deeply how to really maximise their situation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be an interesting progress of the season, as to see who really puts their arms around it all.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a driver, I think, to be able to extract everything out of the chassis itself, now, all of a sudden, you\u2019ve got to relearn how to use the throttle, how to use everything. So I\u2019m not sure I am envying the drivers at the moment. I\u2019m almost happy that I\u2019m on the sideline.\u201d<\/p>\n Cadillac named its first Formula 1 car the MAC-26, in honour of Andretti.<\/p>\n He was asked how Cadillac is leaning on him as the team navigates its way through these early stages of its F1 journey.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re just being very nice to me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not in there giving any orders or suggestions, do this, do that. But, we chat, we talk, and Graeme especially keeps me abreast of what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n \u201cHe keeps making the point, \u2018Mario, I will not disappoint you\u2019. It\u2019s so nice to have that with a team.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m there if you want a comment or an opinion. I\u2019m always there, ready to express, I\u2019ll say it directly.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s about it. They, the team, definitely makes me feel very much at home. So I do have a home in Formula 1 now. So that gives me more reason to participate and enjoy.\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