Cadillac’s F1 team faces a brand new challenge: this weekend, the American outfit will participate in the Monaco GP for the first time. The ‘crown jewel’ stands out from all other races on the calendar, partly due to the narrow streets, tight corners, and unforgiving walls. No room for mistakes, then. Team principal Graeme Lowdon is, however, fully aware of the challenges and relies on the experience of his drivers.
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“For every team, but especially for a brand new team, Monaco is a huge challenge,” Lowdon already looked ahead. “We have made some progress in Miami and Montreal, but although Monaco offers opportunities, our goal is to introduce further upgrades and get through the weekend without problems. The fact that we are being measured against the same standard as other teams shows that expectations are high, but after only six races in our debut season, our focus remains on progress and building momentum.”
Despite the lack of experience, Cadillac travels to the principality with confidence. The team had its best weekend of the season in Canada, while updates in Miami and Montreal have pushed the team further towards the midfield. For Monaco, development is again planned, including an adjusted rear wing and exhaust solution specifically aimed at the low speeds and characteristics of the street circuit.
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Experienced line-up
Moreover, the driver duo knows Monaco inside out. Sergio Pérez returns as a former winner of the race, while Valtteri Bottas has previously taken a podium and was close to pole position in 2019. “We made a big step forward in Canada,” Pérez also noted. “I was able to compete in the midfield in the sprint race and the Grand Prix,” said the Mexican. “Of course, there are still points we need to work on, but Cadillac is still very new. We are constantly learning and making progress together, as a team, step by step, race after race. Monaco is unique and extremely challenging, but it is one of my favorite races on the calendar. I love street circuits and I have very good memories of my victory here in 2022, so hopefully we can continue that progress this weekend.”
Bottas mainly looks at the learning process within the team and the steps being taken. “The past races have been difficult for me,” said the Finn. “We have had a few problems, but that is to be expected with a brand new team. It is all part of the learning process. We know progress takes time, but the team and I work very closely together to take those steps forward. It is clear that we are making progress and becoming more competitive session after session, which is exciting. It is no secret that Monaco is a challenging circuit, but it is a place where I like to race. I am curious about what we can achieve.”
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