Mario Andretti Applauds Cadillac F1 Progress as Bottas and Perez Work to Shake Off Season-Long ‘Rust’

Mario Andretti applauds Cadillac F1 for halving its pace deficit in China as Bottas and Perez work to overcome "rust" after a year away from F1.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 21, 2026, 9:04 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Jamie Woodhouse

A Milestone Debut for the American Manufacturer

The long-awaited arrival of Cadillac on the Formula 1 grid reached its emotional peak during the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, marking a historic moment for the General Motors brand. Mario Andretti, the 1978 World Champion and current Cadillac board member, described a sense of "anxiety" and immense relief as the team finally took its place in the paddock. Speaking on the Drive to Wynn podcast, Andretti emphasized that the presentation and execution of the new outfit proved they "belong in every way," despite the immense pressure of launching a ground-up F1 project.

Veteran Drivers Navigate Performance Deficits

Cadillac’s choice to pair Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez brought 16 combined Grand Prix victories back to the grid, but both drivers are currently grappling with the reality of a year-long hiatus. Bottas served as the Mercedes reserve in 2025, while Perez was out of the sport entirely after losing his Red Bull seat. Andretti admitted that both drivers appear "a bit rusty" as they adapt to the MAC-26, which was named in his honor. He noted that the pair is being "very careful" to participate without creating unnecessary setbacks or extra repair work for the developing squad.

Technical Hurdles and Rapid Development Gains

The early technical feedback from the Cadillac cockpit has centered on a lack of downforce and significant rear-end instability. Despite these aerodynamic challenges, the team has shown a "staggering" rate of improvement in pure pace. During the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, Cadillac managed to slash its qualifying deficit from four seconds off the leaders to just two seconds. While a two-second gap remains substantial in F1 terms, Andretti views this trajectory as a major victory for a team still learning the intricacies of the 2026 power unit regulations and battery deployment strategies.