– Formula 1 newcomer Cadillac is bringing the first major update in the still young team history to the upcoming fourth race of the season in Miami and hopes to shorten the gap to the midfield. So far, they have regularly been able to beat Aston Martin, but the Americans were missing quite a bit compared to the competition ahead. That is now supposed to change.
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With upgrades to the floor, front and rear brake drums, front wing, and other small parts across the entire car, Cadillac aims not only to generate more downforce but also to save weight.
Above all, the lack of aerodynamic downforce has so far been the team’s biggest weakness: “And the biggest part of this upgrade is simply more downforce in all speed ranges,” says Valtteri Bottas.
“That is still the biggest time gain we will achieve. I mean, the weight reduction certainly helps, but it is not as significant as the deficit we had in terms of aerodynamics,” says the Finn.
Can Cadillac develop better than the competition?
Cadillac’s problem is likely only that in Formula 1 there are always moving targets, as all other teams will also upgrade in Miami. “We don’t know what everyone else is doing,” says team principal Graeme Lowdon. “So the only thing that counts is this relative delta. But we are reasonably hopeful.”
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Because at Cadillac they know that compared to the other teams, there is still more room for improvement. “I hope we can make a bigger step than some other teams, because theoretically we should be able to, starting from our starting point,” nods Bottas. “So that is the goal. And yes, by tomorrow evening we will roughly know where we stand.”
Because already on Friday afternoon the sprint qualifying is on the program, and thus a real speed comparison. That Miami is a sprint weekend also means that only one practice session is available – and thus little time for analysis, even though the practice was extended by 30 minutes.
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Lowdon: Progress more important than performance
For team principal Lowdon, such a comprehensive package at only the fourth race is a good step: “I find that really encouraging,” he says, “because what you see on track is the result of everything happening at our various other locations.”
“It’s not just about getting a racing team running, but about getting manufacturing running, all the processes and workflows, from procurement to in-house production. All these systems are completely brand new,” he emphasizes.
“So we will watch the performance of the upgrade with great interest, because there is an incredible amount to verify that other teams have long been doing routinely.”
At the same time, he also emphasizes that the sporting goals of the team will not be adjusted upwards as a result. Instead, he continues to focus on the progress of the racing team. “It’s all still so early,” he says. “We’ve only had three of these things behind us. So in terms of absolute goals, it is really still very early.”
“The crucial thing now is simply how we continue to improve – both in design and in production, operation, and the best possible execution of the race weekend.”
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