Aston Martin or Cadillac: Who Wins the Race to a First Point?

Five races into the 2026 Formula 1 season, the battle at the bottom of the constructors' standings has narrowed to two teams: Aston Martin and Cadillac. Both are still on zero points, two behind ninth-placed Audi. Despite signs of improvement from both outfits, neither has come close to a realistic points finish — Cadillac's best result is Valtteri Bottas's 13th in China, while Aston Martin hasn't cracked the top 15.

Why it matters:

For two teams with very different trajectories, the first point could be a critical morale boost and a signal of which direction is working. Aston Martin, with Adrian Newey's design and a Honda power unit, was expected to fight in the midfield. Cadillac, as the sport's newest entrant, has far lower expectations — but is currently outperforming the more established team in race trim.

The details:

• Aston Martin's struggle: The AMR26 is hampered by severe vibrations from the Honda power unit, forcing the team to detune the engine since Melbourne. Reliability fixes have arrived, but no major aerodynamic upgrades have been introduced. Lance Stroll confirmed the first significant package isn't expected until Spa or Zandvoort.
• Cadillac's upward trend: Sergio Pérez went from finishing three laps down in Australia to running on the lead lap in Japan. The team's qualifying deficit has shrunk considerably, and they have occasionally out-qualified both Aston Martins. A first meaningful upgrade was introduced in Miami.
• The gap: Cadillac's best finish (13th) is now only three positions away from points. Aston Martin's best is 15th — five positions away.

What's next:

A chaotic race could be the deciding factor. Monaco's tight streets often produce attrition — and for two desperate teams, a lucky break might be the only way to score. If reliability holds and Cadillac continues its rate of improvement, it looks more likely to open its account first. Aston Martin needs a major upgrade to escape its holding pattern.

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