CADILLAC FORMULA 1® TEAM PREPARES TO RIDE THE ROLLERCOASTER AT SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS

The Belgian Grand Prix traces its history back over a century, with F1 first visiting the hilly, forested circuit in the Ardennes region during its inaugural 1950 season. While it has occasionally visited other tracks in Belgium, this is the 59th time the race has come to Spa, which has hosted the race exclusively since 1985.

The original circuit measured 14.982km (9.309 miles) making use of public roads. It has been progressively shortened and evolved into a permanent circuit – though the current length of 7.004km (4.352 miles) makes Spa the longest track in F1. It has also retained its reputation for very high speeds and very fast corners, with Pouhon, Blanchimont and the Eau Rouge/Raidillon complex being among the most famous turns in motorsport – and firm driver favorites. Measuring 102.2m (335ft), Spa also features the greatest elevation change of any F1 circuit, earning its reputation as a real ‘rollercoaster.’

The length of the Spa layout, and the altitude changes between the hilltop parts of the course and the valleys, combined with mercurial weather, give Spa a justified reputation for unpredictability. Rarely is it the same for two sessions in a row, and the forecast predicts thunderstorms, rain showers and outbreaks of sunshine - difficult conditions, but also an opportunity.

Following a good performance in Great Britain, where both cars completed the combined 406km (252miles) of racing across the Sprint and Grand Prix distances, the Cadillac Formula 1® Team arrives in a confident frame of mind, keen to maintain momentum. To aid that, the American squad will be bringing an upgraded front wing to Spa, continuing the program of updates over the season.

“The British Grand Prix was a very positive weekend for us,” says Graeme Lowdon, Team Principal. “Completing the full Grand Prix and Sprint distances at the end of a double-header was another step forward in our development and I want to thank the whole of the team. Most pleasing, however, was that we were able to pull away from the back of the grid and race hard against some of the other teams. We would like more of that this weekend in Belgium."

Both Cadillac Formula 1® Team drivers have had junior category victories at Spa. Checo won the 2010 GP2 Sprint race at this circuit, before making the leap to F1. He has since contested the Belgian Grand Prix on 14 occasions, starting on the front row three times, and finishing twice on the podium. He also took the bonus point for fastest lap on his last visit here, in 2024. Valtteri won both races here in 2008 in the Formula Renault 2.0 North European Cup and followed that with victory in the GP3 series feature race in 2011. His F1 record at Spa includes 12 starts, three podium finishes, and fastest lap in 2018.

Checo Pérez:

“After good, competitive performances at Silverstone, we’re ready for Spa, which is a very different challenge from every other circuit on the calendar. Not only is it much longer, your heart always beats a little faster there. It is a very high-speed circuit, and unusual in that it has negative-g when you go through the Eau Rouge compression. It is going to be interesting for energy management and ride, plus tire management, so we will make this a focus of our attention on Friday, as well as analyzing the developments we will bring."

Valtteri Bottas:

“It was good to complete the distance at Silverstone, and I felt we were making real progress with both our reliability and our competitive position. I’m eager now to see how that has moved forward in the last two weeks. We will have to work hard this weekend to maximize our potential. We think of Spa as being all about speed, but really, it’s more balanced than that. It’s a circuit where the driver really needs confidence in the car to commit in the fastest corners, and to run the curbs at high-speed. We’ve been doing a huge amount of work at the factory to ensure we turn-up this weekend with a good baseline set-up, that will enable us to get the most out of practice and progress from there.”

About Cadillac Formula 1® Team

The Cadillac Formula 1® Team is a specialist motor racing team competing in the FIA Formula 1® World Championship. Backed by TWG Motorsports and General Motors, the team has operations in Indianapolis, Indiana (USA); Charlotte, North Carolina (USA); and Silverstone, Northamptonshire (UK). With the confidence to dream big and the passion to deliver, the Cadillac Formula 1® Team is building everything from the ground up – from high-performance race cars to an inclusive, values-driven culture. The team made its Formula 1® debut in 2026.