Cadillac resolves Perez suspension failure, dismisses Bottas rumors

Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon has confirmed the team “fully understands” the cause of Sergio Perez's spectacular suspension failure during the Canadian Grand Prix and has already addressed the issue. The failure, which occurred on lap 39, looked more dramatic than it was due to brake debris flying after initial breakage.

Why it matters:

For a brand-new F1 team like Cadillac, reliability and rapid problem-solving are critical to building credibility. Understanding and fixing the root cause quickly reassures both drivers and fans that the team can handle technical setbacks, while shutting down driver swap rumors maintains stability.

The details:

• Lowdon explained that the failure had already occurred before Perez applied the brakes. When brakes were applied, the lack of proper securing led to the dramatic debris, but the root cause is now understood and addressed.
• The incident drew comparisons to Sebastien Buemi's 2010 suspension failure, but Lowdon insists it was “nothing too out of the ordinary” and similar issues have been seen by other teams.
• Driver rumors dismissed: Lowdon firmly rejected speculation that test driver Colton Herta could replace Valtteri Bottas, noting Herta does not hold an FIA superlicense, showing a lack of understanding of F1 rules by those spreading the rumors.
• Both Perez and Bottas bring extensive Monaco experience—Perez won there in 2022, Bottas finished third in 2019—which Lowdon calls a “big plus point” for the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix.

What's next:

Cadillac heads to Monaco for its sixth ever grand prix. With the suspension issue resolved and driver lineup secure, the team is optimistic. Lowdon said, “We ain't tired of any of this yet.” The team will rely on its veteran drivers' street circuit expertise as it continues to learn and improve.