Cadillac’s first F1 automobile breaks cowl at Silverstone shakedown

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

The American automobile large turns into the eleventh workforce on the grid in 2026, because it hits the monitor in a Ferrari-powered challenger.

The Cadillac F1 workforce staged its first check as an outfit late final 12 months at Imola, as Sergio Perez accomplished two days of working in a black-liveried 2023-spec Ferrari.

The check was aimed to offer Perez extra miles in a automobile after sitting out the 2025 season, whereas additionally serving to the workforce put together for its first season.

Cadillac’s inaugural F1 12 months has now kicked up a gear, after collaborating in a shakedown at Silverstone on Friday with check driver Zhou Guanyu.

It marked the primary laps of Cadillac’s 2026 automobile, with the workforce restricted to 200km of working  – or roughly 34 laps at Silverstone – beneath shakedown and filming day check guidelines.

Forward of the check, Zhou Guanyu stated in a quick video on the workforce’s social media channels: “We’re right here at Silverstone for the brand new season shakedown along with the Cadillac F1 workforce.

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

“For the driving force, it’s all about if we’re comfortable, comfy with the brand new seat, the steering wheel, all of the suggestions, and likewise all of the communications.

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

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

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

Cadillac’s full-time 2026 livery will probably be revealed throughout the Tremendous Bowl in February.

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

All groups will seemingly perform shakedowns previous to the non-public Barcelona check on the finish of the month.

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