The Chinese Grand Prix was far from the ideal scenario for Cadillac. Everything started in the worst possible way, with a collision between its two cars that could have ended in disaster. Sergio Pérez attempted a risky move and ended up crashing into his teammate, Valtteri Bottas.

At the end of the race, the Mexican driver took responsibility and apologized both to his team and his teammate. Even so, criticism toward the driver quickly followed.

Criticism and Pressure on Sergio Pérez

One of the harshest voices was that of former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer. The Brit described the move as “incomprehensible” and called it foolish, especially given Cadillac’s need to finish races.

As a new team, Cadillac must complete races to gather data, make adjustments, and develop improvements that will help it become more competitive. Jolyon Palmer emphasized this point: if you crash, you get no data, which further complicates the car’s development. That is why he found it hard to understand why, starting from the back and needing to log as many laps as possible, Sergio Pérez took such a risk.

Background and What’s Next for Cadillac

This is not the first time Sergio Pérez has come under scrutiny for a move like this. One only has to recall the 2023 Mexican Grand Prix, when he collided with Charles Leclerc at the start, went airborne, and retired from his home race.

Sergio Pérez is an aggressive driver, and that style has often brought him success. However, at Cadillac, he needs to be more cautious. The car is not yet ready to fight at the front, and the team needs data to accelerate its development—especially in a season where several drivers are still struggling with the new regulations.

Cadillac has already shifted its focus to the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, and within the team, the message seems clear: clean slate. Even so, all signs point to a long and very demanding season for the American outfit.

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