Cadillac to shift focus from reliability to performance in Bahrain testing

Cadillac's initial Formula 1 shakedown in Barcelona was deliberately focused on reliability checks, with team principal Graeme Lowdon confirming a strategic pivot towards performance will begin at the next test in Bahrain. The new team used its first track time to establish a stable foundation, intentionally deprioritizing outright speed to work through its initial programs and teething issues.

Why it matters:

For a brand-new F1 operation, a methodical start focused on reliability over headline lap times is a prudent, if unglamorous, strategy. It reduces the risk of major failures during crucial early running and allows the team to build a dependable platform before exploring performance limits. How effectively Cadillac can now switch gears and extract pace in Bahrain will offer the first real clues about its potential competitiveness on the 2026 grid.

The details:

• Team Principal Graeme Lowdon stated the Barcelona test target was "very much a shakedown," aimed at removing unknowns and ensuring a stable, reliable platform.
• The program involved ticking off various non-performance-oriented tests, working through different parameters and extremes, and addressing any initial "niggles" that appeared.
• Lowdon acknowledged this reliability-first approach is common up and down the pit lane for a new car's initial run.
• The team's focus is set for a significant shift in Bahrain, where the goal becomes "actually trying to see how fast we can make the cars go."

What's next:

All attention turns to the Bahrain test, where Cadillac's intentional turn towards performance will begin. This session will provide much more meaningful data on the car's potential speed and handling characteristics. The team's ability to translate its stable Barcelona foundation into a competitive lap time will set the early narrative for its debut season, offering a preliminary answer to how it might stack up against the established grid.