Perez and Cadillac test at Imola with a Ferrari F1 car

Cadillac won’t join the Formula 1 grid until next year, but its on-track preparations are already underway. Through its partnership with Ferrari, the team has completed its first running at Imola using a two-year old Ferrari chassis.

F1 & MotoGP news to your inbox every day.

Cadillac will officially join Formula 1 in 2026, but its build-up is already underway. Through its partnership with Ferrari, the future team has been able to start real track work before it can run its own car.

Under the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme, Cadillac is running a Ferrari SF-23 at Imola this week. The car carries no familiar Ferrari colours. Instead, it appears in a fully black livery that makes it easy to overlook its identity at first sight.

Full black SF-23 & Sergio Perez 🇲🇽

📸 @wearetherace pic.twitter.com/vszjNBk1uQ
— La Gazzetta Ferrari (@GazzettaFerrari) November 13, 2025

Although the chassis is a 2023 Ferrari, which is the newest model permitted for TPC running, the test is part of Cadillac’s own preparation for entering the championship. The American manufacturer is using these early outings to understand how to operate a Formula 1 car, from garage processes to trackside routines.

Sergio Perez is driving on both days of the Imola running. His team-mate for next season, Valtteri Bottas, remains a reserve driver at Mercedes for now and is not involved in this phase of work.

For its debut campaign, Cadillac will use Ferrari power units. In the longer term, the plan is to build and develop its own engines once the project is fully established.

James Whitaker

James Whitaker is a British sports journalist with a strong focus on Formula 1 and MotoGP. Known for his clear and engaging style, he delivers the latest news and easy-to-follow analysis from the fast-paced world of motorsport. His work aims to make the complexities of racing accessible to both hardcore fans and casual readers alike. Whether covering the drama of a Grand Prix weekend, breaking down technical developments or highlighting standout performances, James brings a passion for racing and a journalist’s eye for detail to every story he tells.