Cadillac’s Sergio Pérez described the 2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP as one of the best weekends he has had in Baku. He also warned that the performance gap between Formula 1’s power unit manufacturers has become a serious safety concern.
The Mexican driver fought cars with a clear straight-line advantage for much of the race, particularly Mercedes-powered (Williams) and Red Bull Powertrains cars (Racing Bulls). Afterwards, he reflected on both the positives and the problems facing Cadillac.
Pérez reflects on 2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP battle against faster cars
Pérez was clearly pleased with how much he extracted from his car on the streets of Baku. He spent much of the race in the company of quicker machinery, including the Williams and the Audi. The Mexican was also significantly faster than Valtteri Bottas.
“It’s been one of my best weekends in Baku, to be honest. I’ve managed to get 150% out of that car. We were fighting cars that were a second or two seconds faster than us due to the overtake mode,” he said.
Sergio Pérez explained that Cadillac held on during the opening part of the race but could not respond once the field bunched up for the restart. “So we stayed with them throughout the first [stint], with the Williams, with the Audi, big cars. But then in the end, at the restart, we just don’t have any strength and speed.”
He also put a figure on the shortfall. “At the moment, we’re lacking really a half second, a second to be able to mix with them.”
Engine differences raise F1 safety concerns after Azerbaijan GP
The main theme of Pérez’s comments was energy management and power deployment. Electrical deployment plays a far greater role under the 2026 regulations.
Pérez said that the differences between manufacturers left him exposed while defending against Liam Lawson.
“I think, more than anything, it’s a race that we need to review a lot. What’s going on with the energy management, the difference in engine[s],” he said. “I was going to have a massive [shunt] when I was defending from him, because the difference in deployment and power across engine[s] is too dangerous. And I fear something bad is going to happen soon if we don’t make some changes on the regulations.”
He singled out Mercedes and Red Bull as the manufacturers with the strongest packages. “At the moment, it feels like Mercedes and Red Bull, they have a very strong engine. And they can get you in places where the deployment is so poor and different to us. And the difference in speed is too dangerous.”
Pérez expressed hope that the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) mechanism could narrow the gap. The mechanism is designed to help manufacturers that fall behind on performance. “Well, with this [ADUO] thing, they are trying to improve, hopefully. Hopefully that can be improved.”
A race to be proud of for Sergio Pérez
Despite his concerns, Pérez took real satisfaction from the fight. He noted that Cadillac forced Williams into the pits as Carlos Sainz was struggling on the medium compound in the first stint.
“When I look at the cars I was fighting, you know, they were a second or two seconds faster than us. And we were able to stay with them throughout the race. We pushed [Sainz] to the box because we were about to overtake him. We were with the Audis. We were in that race.”
He added that he drove on the limit throughout. “If anything went wrong at any corner, I would have put it in the wall, you know. So when you do a race like this, you feel really proud.”
Expecting a tougher test at the next round
Sergio Pérez was far less optimistic about the next race on the 2026 F1 calendar in Malaysia.
“I think we will be back to a reality,” he said, before adding, “I think it’s going to be a very difficult race for us.”
