A Busy Sunday in Formula 1
It has been a busy Sunday in the world of Formula 1. In Maranello, Ferrari is working to address the issues that arose after the Singapore Grand Prix, treating the situation as a matter of urgency. Meanwhile, in the United States, the new Cadillac team is accelerating its preparations for the 2026 season, with a unique plan to practice pit stops, and Valtteri Bottas has praised the team’s infrastructure. On the track, James Hinchcliffe has described his recent test with Haas in Mugello as “incredible” and “left him speechless”.
At Ferrari, Frédéric Vasseur acknowledged that the team’s performance in Marina Bay was below expectations and has called for an “immediate solution” to the loss of performance identified. The team principal sees a risk of the problem recurring on circuits with similar characteristics and wants answers before the United States Grand Prix in Austin next week. “We cannot drag this on”, he summarized.
Cadillac has confirmed that it is seeking a borrowed car to practice pit stop choreography and weekend routines before its debut in March 2026. Graeme Lowdon explained that the idea is not to “learn” the car, but to simulate processes and create muscle memory for the team. As a Ferrari customer for the power unit in 2026, the American team has not ruled out using any FIA-approved machine: “As long as it has the right size and shape, the color does not matter”, he said.
The plan adds to strategic hires and an infrastructure that, according to Valtteri Bottas, is impressive. After visiting the factory, the Finn – confirmed as a driver for the project – stated that “he did not expect to see everything so advanced” and left confident that the schedule for 2026 is on track. The positive assessment reinforces the narrative that Cadillac wants to join the grid while minimizing the operational learning curve.
While the paddock is buzzing, there has been recent action on the track: James Hinchcliffe drove a Haas F1 car in Mugello and described the day as “incredible”. The Canadian reported a start with rain, tips from Romain Grosjean and Esteban Ocon, and the moment he put slick tires on at the end: “An incredible machine… I hope to do that again someday”, he said, thanking the American team for the invitation.
With Ferrari in correction mode, Cadillac stepping up its preparation pace, and Haas in the spotlight for the experience given to Hinchcliffe, this Sunday’s news leaves the perfect hook for the week of the United States Grand Prix. Formula 1 returns to the track with TL1 on Friday and the expectation of quick answers – both in Ferrari’s technical analysis and the next steps of the new American team.
