As the Formula One 2026 season continues its North American swing, Guadalajara’s Sergio “Checo” Pérez is enduring a campaign that has defied even the most sober pre-season expectations. The romanticism of building a brand-new team has long since collided with the brutal reality of the F1 grid, and the evidence was laid bare at the U.S. Grand Prix in Texas last Sunday. However, on the eve of his home race, Pérez received a significant vote of confidence: Cadillac announced a multi-year extension keeping him with the team until 2029.

The 36-year-old, who is set to make his 300th Grand Prix start in Mexico City this weekend, joined the fledgling Cadillac team alongside fellow veteran Valtteri Bottas in a calculated move designed to enrich the U.S. outfit with decades of combined experience. Pérez had described the project as a “unique” privilege and a refreshing change from the pressure cooker he endured at Red Bull for four years.

Yet after 18 rounds of the 23-race championship, Cadillac remains rooted to the bottom of the constructors’ standings and is still the only outfit on the grid without a single point. The U.S. Grand Prix in Austin was supposed to be a turning point. Instead, it delivered another disappointing afternoon. Pérez crossed the line in 19th, a full lap behind Mercedes winner Kimi Antonelli. His teammate Bottas fared even worse, retiring from the race altogether. The result leaves Cadillac’s points tally at zero and the team’s credibility under intense scrutiny.

How has it gone so badly?

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