P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Cadillac has promoted Charles Leclerc’s former race engineer to a major role in its new F1 team after a brief spell working in its endurance squads.
Cadillac has appointed Xavier Marcos Padros, Charles Leclerc’s former race engineer, to the key role of Chief Race Engineer for their inaugural Formula 1 season, following his tenure at Ferrari.
Marcos Padros brings significant experience, having contributed to Leclerc’s five Grand Prix victories while at Ferrari and previously working with teams like HRT and Williams.
Transitioning from Ferrari to Cadillac, Marcos Padros assumed the Technical Director role for the V-Series.R program, overseeing efforts in both WEC and IMSA racing series.
His involvement in a recent TPC test at Imola, with Sergio Perez driving a disguised Ferrari, signifies Cadillac’s ongoing preparations for their F1 entry in 2026.
Perez will collaborate with new race engineer Carlo Pasetti, while Valtteri Bottas partners with John Howard, previously of Alpine, in what promises to be a dynamic and competitive team lineup for Cadillac.
The team further strengthens its roster with the inclusion of experienced drivers like Simon Pagenaud and Colton Herta, positioning themselves well for their highly anticipated debut in the upcoming season.
