Cadillac’s first F1 car breaks cover at Silverstone shakedown

The Cadillac System 1 crew has accomplished a shakedown at Silverstone in what was the primary ever laps for its inaugural grand prix automotive.

The American automotive big turns into the eleventh crew on the grid in 2026, because it hits the observe in a Ferrari-powered challenger.

The Cadillac F1 crew staged its first take a look at as an outfit late final yr at Imola, as Sergio Perez accomplished two days of working in a black-liveried 2023-spec Ferrari.

The take a look at was aimed to provide Perez extra miles in a automotive after sitting out the 2025 season, whereas additionally serving to the crew put together for its first season.

Cadillac’s inaugural F1 yr has now kicked up a gear, after participating in a shakedown at Silverstone on Friday with take a look at driver Zhou Guanyu.

It marked the primary laps of Cadillac’s 2026 automotive, with the crew restricted to 200km of working  – or roughly 34 laps at Silverstone – beneath shakedown and filming day take a look at guidelines.

Forward of the take a look at, Zhou Guanyu mentioned in a short video on the crew’s social media channels: “We’re right here at Silverstone for the brand new season shakedown along with the Cadillac F1 crew.

“I’m tremendous excited. A shakedown is all about ensuring the automotive is working, and all of the engineers are ticking by all of the containers with the gearbox, the engine, and in addition the set-up work.

“For the driving force, it’s all about if we’re glad, snug with the brand new seat, the steering wheel, all of the suggestions, and in addition all of the communications.

“So, wanting ahead to it and extra pleasure for the season.”

Cadillac revealed a one-off livery earlier this week that it’ll use through the five-day Barcelona shakedown take a look at on the finish of January.

The brand new livery is “used whereas a automotive is being developed. It helps the crew perceive aerodynamics, efficiency, and integration earlier than finalising the design.”

Cadillac’s full-time 2026 livery shall be revealed through the Tremendous Bowl in February.

The American outfit is the second F1 crew to have put a 2026 challenger on observe, following Audi’s working at Barcelona final week.

All groups will probably perform shakedowns previous to the personal Barcelona take a look at on the finish of the month.

Ferrari is presently the following crew scheduled to hit the observe with its 2026 automotive, because it completes a shakedown at Fiorano on 23 January when it reveals its new livery.