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  • Sergio Pérez completed the first shakedown laps while teammate Valtteri Bottas watched from the sidelines
  • The full livery reveal is saved for Super Bowl Sunday on February 8, 2026
  • Cadillac will use Ferrari engines until GM starts building its own power units in 2029

Cadillac has crossed the line from ambition to action, with its first Formula 1 car taking to the track at Silverstone during a debut shakedown.

The first laps were completed by Sergio “Checo” Pérez while his teammate Valtteri Bottas watched from the stands. Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac Formula 1, was also present for the milestone.

Footage of the run was shared online from a damp Silverstone circuit. The car itself stayed deliberately anonymous, wrapped in black camouflage and stripped of any branding.

Cadillac clearly wasn’t interested in aesthetics just yet. The main purpose of the Silverstone test was to shake down the new machine and ensure all systems are working as expected in preparation for official pre-season testing.

An F1 Car Unveiled During The Super Bowl

The full livery has been deliberately held back for a Super Bowl Sunday reveal on February 8, 2026. It will be the first time a Formula 1 car is unveiled during America’s biggest sporting event. It’s obvious that Cadillac wants to capture a massive new American audience before it ever seeks approval from the paddock.

For Pérez, the moment felt special. He sat out 2025, but he’s back on the track where he belongs.

“Everyone should feel incredibly proud to complete our first laps as a team… I just want to get back in and get mileage,” Pérez said.

Bottas, who did not participate in the shakedown, was also excited. He noted that Cadillac Formula 1 made history by taking the car on the track for the first time.

The first official tests of the new season are scheduled from January 26 to 30th, when the car will be taken to Barcelona for its very first proper run.

Ferrari Engines Now, GM Power Later

For now, the Cadillac F1 Team will source engines from Ferrari. That won’t last long. GM is registered as a power unit manufacturer and plans to produce its own engines from 2029 onward.

Cadillac becomes one of more than 165 constructors in Formula 1 history. Most merged with others, and some never made it past a few seasons. Cadillac does not look like it is here to fade quietly.

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