Sergio Perez returned to Formula 1 machinery today, driving a 2023-spec Ferrari in a two-day test at Imola as part of his preparation to race for Cadillac next year. The run marks his first time in an F1 car in nearly a year and is intended to help him get back up to speed ahead of Cadillac’s inaugural campaign.
Cadillac, which does not operate its own Testing of Previous Cars programme, arranged with engine supplier Ferrari to use one of its two-year-old cars. The target is twofold: refresh Perez on F1 systems, procedures and physical demands, and allow some Cadillac personnel to join the Ferrari crew on-site to build on simulator work and virtual race-weekend preparations.
Perez completed a seat fit at Maranello last week and returned to the cockpit at Imola on Thursday and Friday. The car ran in an all-black livery and Perez wore black overalls and a black helmet. He said the timing was ideal ahead of the January pre-season test and that the sessions will show where he needs to focus his winter training and conditioning.
The test also gives Perez a chance to begin working directly with engineers and mechanics and to align communications and routines with the race team. Since agreeing to join Cadillac during the summer, Perez has been immersing himself in the project with frequent visits to the team’s UK and US bases and multiple simulator stints. Earlier in the week he visited Cadillac’s Silverstone factory for further meetings and for a seat fit in the team’s first Formula 1 monocoque, designed to the sweeping 2026 regulations.
Perez left Red Bull at the end of 2024 by mutual agreement despite having two years remaining on his contract. He used his first significant break from racing in nearly two decades to spend time with family and reassess his goals before committing to Cadillac.
Following the Imola test, Perez will continue simulator work, increase team meetings and undertake a focused winter training block to prepare for the January pre-season. He will partner at Cadillac with Valtteri Bottas, who has spent the past year as Mercedes reserve and remains contracted to Mercedes until the end of the season. Together the pair bring extensive experience, totaling 527 Grands Prix between them.