Cadillac Racing is turning heads in Miami, and it’s not just the sunshine that has the team smiling. After a brief but productive break following the Japanese Grand Prix, the squad rolled into the Miami Grand Prix with their first major upgrades of the season—and early signs point to real progress.

In Friday’s Sprint Qualifying, both drivers showed flashes of pace that suggest the team is moving in the right direction. Veteran Sergio Pérez narrowly missed advancing to SQ2, ultimately qualifying 19th, but he described the car’s speed as “promising.” “I was very happy with my lap,” Pérez said. “At some points, we looked like we were going to make it to SQ2, which is already progress.” He noted that a tight timing window limited him to just one flying lap, but the performance gains were clear.

Teammate Valtteri Bottas, who will start from 20th, echoed that optimism. “The car feels better with the upgrade—we’ve definitely gained some load, especially in high- to medium-speed corners,” Bottas explained. “There’s still work to do, but the feeling is positive, and we’re heading in the right direction.”

Team Principal Graeme Lowdon highlighted the significance of the upgrades, which included a substantial aero package designed to increase cornering grip and overall lap time. “The upgrades were on both cars,” Lowdon confirmed. “We’ve translated more load through the corners into real on-track speed. Now it’s about capitalizing on that progress and smoothing out our weekend.”

For a new team finding its footing in Formula 1, every step forward matters. With the Sprint Race and Grand Prix still ahead, Cadillac is proving that their debut challenger has more to give—and that this Miami weekend could be a turning point.