Cadillac's Miami Upgrades Show Promise but Teething Issues Persist

Valtteri Bottas's unusual drive-through penalty at the Miami Grand Prix was the latest symptom of Cadillac's teething issues, but the team is encouraged by the results of its first in-season upgrades. The updates – an improved front wing and reprofiled floor – allowed Cadillac to take a bite out of its deficit to the midfield and race Aston Martin on pace. However, quality inconsistencies with new parts and the steering wheel button problem show how much work remains for F1's newest entrant.

Why it matters:

Cadillac's ability to close the gap to the midfield is crucial for its long-term viability. The team started with a basic launch car and needs to show rapid progress to justify its entry. The Miami upgrades worked as intended, but the fine margins of F1 mean even small snags can cost positions and momentum.

The details:

• Penalty & Steering Wheel: Bottas received a drive-through for speeding in the pitlane. He explained, "I pressed the pit limiter button, but apparently not hard enough. We're still lacking a bit of feedback on some of the buttons." The team is awaiting a new steering wheel from its supplier.
• Upgrade Performance: Bottas confirmed "the upgrades worked" and the team is now closer to the midfield. Both drivers finished near the back in the sprint and grand prix, but showed improved single-lap pace relative to Aston Martin.
• Quality Consistency: Bottas noted inconsistencies in parts: "Not every part is the same that we put in the car, so there's a bit of a lack of consistency." Team principal Graeme Lowdon acknowledged it's a known issue from being a new team with processes still ramping up.
• Lowdon's View: "We've made a really big step forward here in a number of areas. The upgrades have worked how we wanted them to work. But we're not there yet – we will get there." He praised the drivers' maturity in encouraging the team at the right pace.

What's next:

Cadillac has a "fairly healthy stream of upgrades" in the pipeline, primarily aero-focused, along with weight-saving that will allow strategic deployment of mass. Lowdon is confident the Miami package has more performance to unlock in Canada and beyond. As the team matures, these teething issues should diminish, but the immediate focus is on consistency to capitalise on the step forward.