Cadillac makes further advancements at the Miami Grand Prix

F1 Team Makes Upgrades Before Miami Grand Prix

Formula 1’s newest team has taken advantage of the break between the Japanese Grand Prix and this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix to roll out several upgrades for their new car.

After qualifying for the F1 sprint race, the team expressed satisfaction with the “progress” these enhancements have brought about.

Both Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas were knocked out in SQ1, but the team is optimistic. They believe that if Perez had been able to finish the second race, he might have reached SQ2. Even though he qualified 19th, Perez found his pace to be “promising” and felt “satisfied” with how things went.

“I felt good about my laps in Sprint Qualifying and the pace looked promising, but unfortunately, I only got one run. There were moments where SQ2 seemed within reach. I see progress, but overcoming challenges is still a priority for us. We lost some practice time, which put us at a disadvantage. However, we’ve got a step forward with the package, so I’m looking forward to a smooth day tomorrow. Let’s see what Sunday brings,” the veteran driver noted in the team’s media statement.

Bottas, who will start from 20th position, echoed that the team is on the “right track.” He mentioned that the upgrades have improved the car’s feel, which is a positive sign. “The car feels better, especially in high to medium-speed corners. We still have more to do, but at least we’re feeling good about the direction we’re heading. Tomorrow and through the sprint races this weekend, we’ll keep working to understand our package better,” Bottas added.

Team principal Graham Loudon emphasized the importance of taking advantage of the upgrades observed on Friday.

“We introduced a significant aero upgrade this weekend, enhancing corner loads and improving lap times. Both cars received the upgrades, but one component was missing from the Czech driver’s car, which will be addressed moving forward. Had we not missed the opportunity to complete a second run at the weighbridge, we could have qualified for SQ2. It’s disappointing, but we’ve made a step forward. Valtteri had a good session too, so there’s real potential here. We must optimize everything operationally to maximize this progress,” Loudon explained.

In speaking exclusively with SB Nation before the weekend, Loudon made it clear that the aim is to keep improving each week. While scoring points or podiums would be great, the focus remains on overall development.