Pushing Back on the “Rusty” Narrative
Sergio Perez has strongly rejected claims from Mario Andretti that he is still “a bit rusty” following his return to Formula 1. Andretti had suggested both Perez and team-mate Valtteri Bottas were being overly cautious after a year out, prioritising clean runs over outright performance. Perez, however, sees it differently — insisting he was immediately up to speed within days of returning and has been satisfied with his overall execution, particularly in qualifying trim where he felt competitive right away.
Key Highlights:
- Perez rejects Mario Andretti’s “rusty” verdict after F1 comeback
- Sergio Perez yet to score in 2026 but shows steady improvement with Cadillac
- Cadillac’s MAC-26 lacks pace, trailing rivals by up to 3 seconds
- Encouraging signs emerge ahead of Miami, with upgrades set to be a major test
A Challenging Comeback with Cadillac
After a disappointing 2024 season led to his exit from Red Bull Racing, Perez took time away before joining F1 newcomer Cadillac for 2026. The early phase of the project has been predictably tough, with the team operating as a backmarker and struggling to match the established midfield. The MAC-26 is consistently two to three seconds off the pace, and recurring technical faults have further complicated race weekends. Despite this, running ahead of Aston Martin in the standings offers a small but meaningful benchmark for progress.
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Performance vs Reality on Track
Perez has emphasised that the lack of results does not reflect a lack of performance. Across Melbourne and Shanghai, his races were compromised by damage and unpredictable scenarios, preventing him from putting together a clean, representative weekend. Even so, he points to encouraging signs — including strong initial qualifying efforts and the ability to stay close to the pace early on — as proof that he remains in a “good place” in terms of driving. The gap, he suggests, lies primarily in the machinery rather than execution.
Suzuka Progress Offers Encouragement
At Suzuka Circuit, there were tangible improvements. Perez finished on the lead lap for the first time this season and recorded his smallest Q1 deficit to the leader, trimming the gap significantly compared to Melbourne and Shanghai. He also noted that while chasing cars like Williams and Alpine, the difference wasn’t drastic, but rather in their ability to consistently extract lap time, something Cadillac is still developing. These details point to incremental gains, even if they haven’t yet translated into points.
Miami Upgrade: A Defining Test
With an unusual break in the calendar following the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain Grands Prix, attention now turns to Miami as a potential inflection point. Perez has made it clear that the team needs a step change, expressing hope that a major upgrade package will arrive in time for round four. After steady but modest progress across the opening races, and a relatively clean Suzuka weekend aside from minor deployment issues, Miami is shaping up to be the first true measure of Cadillac’s development direction and competitiveness.
