P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Cadillac has surpassed early-season expectations, but Sergio Perez is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge to take the next step.
Sergio Perez acknowledges that his Cadillac Formula 1 team must find one second per lap to vie with leading cars and is pinning hopes on an upcoming significant upgrade package for Miami. Cadillac has surpassed Aston Martin, with Perez and Valtteri Bottas outqualifying Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll at Suzuka. In the race, Perez placed 17th, barely staying on the lead lap, benefitting from a safety car period. He trailed Sainz and Colapinto by 27 seconds, shedding a second a lap post-safety car, reflected in a 1.1-second gap in fastest lap times. Perez stresses the need for increased downforce for competitive performance, with Miami’s upgrade carrying high expectations for the team. Despite challenges, Perez acknowledges Cadillac’s progress since the season’s outset, hoping the forthcoming improvements will catapult the team into midfield contention.
