Exclusive First Look at Perez’s 2023 Ferrari F1 Test Car

Cadillac and Sergio Perez complete a two-day test at Imola using a 2023 Ferrari, advancing preparations for a planned 2026 Formula 1 entry.

Ferrari loans the car, finished in black, while Cadillac runs operations. The work targets readiness, not lap time, within Testing of Previous Cars regulations.

Ferrari previously used the rule for Lewis Hamilton’s acclimatisation. Team principal Fred Vasseur allocates two testing days to Cadillac, covering Fiorano and Imola sessions.

The programme emphasises clean processes in the garage and on the radio, refining roles, handovers, and fault triage under realistic turnaround pressures.

Cadillac also completes a full sprint weekend simulation during the Brazilian Grand Prix, stress-testing decision paths from practice to parc fermé.

For 2026, the priority is operational fluency. Mechanics and engineers rehearse procedures, while Ferrari personnel ensure safe, reliable running of a known baseline package.

Perez’s feedback underpins the exercise. Driving a proven car allows driver, race engineers, and systems groups to calibrate expectations without chasing development variables.

Using a competitive 2023 Ferrari reduces unknowns. That improves repeatability for pitstop drills, out-lap preparation, tyre handling, and fault diagnosis.

Regulations restrict testing to two-year-old machinery, maintaining competitive integrity while enabling structured preparation. The balance suits a newcomer building systems from scratch.

Expect further simulations and integration work before 2026. The measured cadence suggests Cadillac targets execution reliability first, aiming to start strongly when it joins Formula 1.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.