Cadillac is preparing for another historic milestone this coming weekend, its debut in the Sprint format, with the nineteen-lap race to be held the day before the Formula 1 Chinese GP in Shanghai. The short format, which includes an extra qualifying session, represents a new challenge for the American team, which wants to evolve after a good performance in Australia.
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“It was incredibly special to see Cadillac come to life and make history by finishing our first race,” said Graeme Lowdon, team principal. “We learned a lot in Australia and are looking forward to applying that knowledge in our first Sprint format weekend. Our goal is to further improve performance and reliability,” he stated.
Sergio Perez commented: “It was wonderful to finish Cadillac’s first race. Now the focus is on evolving in all aspects, and Shanghai has a totally different circuit style, which means we can learn a lot. The Sprint format makes the weekend a challenge, but I’m excited to get back in the car and help the team,” he said.
Valtteri Bottas also highlighted the importance of the event: “It’s great to be back in China, where there is a lot of support for the sport. It will be our second race weekend and with a Sprint race, with only one free practice session, which will make everything more interesting. We learned a lot in Melbourne and I’m looking forward to getting back in the car and giving our best in this quick turnaround,” he added.
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The Chinese GP will also feature the special presence of Zhou Guanyu, Cadillac’s reserve driver and the first and only Chinese driver in Formula 1 to date. Born in Shanghai, Zhou will continue to support the team on track and closely follow the main drivers and the technical team: “Cadillac is evolving every time it hits the track, and I’m sure it will take another leap in Shanghai. Support for the team in China is already very strong and I feel proud to be part of this chapter in F1 history,” the Chinese driver concluded.
The Sprint race in Shanghai will be the next test for Cadillac, which seeks to consolidate its presence in Formula 1 and demonstrate that it can compete consistently in race pace and reliability.
