Mario Andretti encouraged by Cadillac’s early progress ahead of Japanese Grand Prix

A measured beginning for Formula 1’s newest team

Mario Andretti has offered an optimistic assessment of Cadillac’s opening races in Formula 1, highlighting clear signs of progress as the American squad prepares for the Japanese Grand Prix.

Speaking on the Drive to Wynn podcast, Andretti admitted there was understandable tension heading into the season opener in Melbourne.

For Andretti, simply reaching the grid was a milestone in itself. Yet once there, his focus quickly shifted to competitive credibility.

"I just wanted to see how we looked vis-à-vis the other teams. And you know something, Cadillac looked like they belonged in every way, the presentation and the execution, everything."

Experience behind the operation

Although officially a new entry, Andretti emphasized that Cadillac is far from inexperienced. The team’s leadership structure has provided a foundation of stability and know-how.

Team principal Graeme Lowdon and consultant Pat Symonds were singled out as key figures, described as seasoned insiders who have "been there, done that." Their presence has helped attract what Andretti called "really good, solid talents" from rival teams.

That blend of fresh ambition and established expertise left Andretti proud of the team’s initial execution.

"It’s a new team, but there’s a lot of experience there," he said. "I was proud, quite honestly, and very pleased to see them execute. Glitches here and there, but you have to deal with it."

Support from Cadillac’s top management at the opening round further reinforced the sense of momentum around the project.

Early results and clear gains

On track, the results have reflected the realities of a start-up operation. In Australia, the team’s target was simply to reach the chequered flag. That goal proved elusive, with Valtteri Bottas among six drivers who failed to finish the race.

The second round in China, however, marked tangible progress. Both cars reached the finish, with Bottas classified 13th and team-mate Sergio Perez 15th at the Shanghai International Circuit. Notably, seven other drivers either retired or did not start the race.

Andretti pointed to qualifying performance as another measurable step forward.

"The second race was definitely a little bit better in China, both cars finishing, and even now, in the qualifying, respectively, instead of being four seconds off the pace, they were two seconds off the pace, which is a lot, but it’s an improvement," he explained.

Halving the deficit to the front may still leave Cadillac some distance from contention, but within the context of a brand-new entry, the direction of travel is clear.

Building race by race

Andretti’s outlook remains grounded but positive. The objective is incremental progress at every event as the season unfolds.

"So we’ll be looking to achieve that in every race as we progress through the season."

For Cadillac, the immediate ambition is consistency — finishing races, refining execution, and narrowing the performance gap. Ahead of Japan, the emphasis is not on headline results but on continued evidence that the team belongs on the Formula 1 grid — and is steadily moving forward.