The Cadillac Formula 1 team endured a challenging race weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai as the new American entry continues to work through early-season reliability issues.

The race weekend came as construction continues in Fishers on the future headquarters for the Cadillac F1 operation, which will serve as the team’s primary engineering and operations base in the United States.

Cadillac struggled almost immediately during the Shanghai weekend. One of the team’s drivers, Sergio Pérez, was unable to participate in sprint qualifying after a fuel-pump failure sidelined his car. The problem forced him to start from the back of the field and limited the team’s ability to compete in the sprint race.

Reports from the paddock indicated both Cadillac cars experienced technical issues during qualifying sessions, highlighting the challenges faced by a new team in Formula 1’s highly competitive environment.

Even when the cars were running, Cadillac lacked the pace to challenge the established teams near the front of the grid. The team was eliminated in the early rounds of qualifying and did not contend for points during the sprint race or the main Grand Prix.

The race itself was won by Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who captured his first Formula 1 victory. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton finished on the podium, while several teams battled mechanical issues during the race.

In a contest where seven cars dropped out, at least Cadillac’s two entries did finish the main race, although at the back of the pack.

For Cadillac, the focus now shifts to continued development and reliability improvements. The team introduced some technical updates in China as engineers work to close the performance gap with more established teams.

Those engineering efforts will eventually be centered in Fishers, where the Cadillac Formula 1 headquarters is currently under construction. The facility is expected to house key design, engineering, and operational functions for the team’s long-term Formula 1 program.

City officials have said the project represents one of the most significant motorsports investments in the region and further strengthens Fishers’ growing ties to the international racing industry.

While the team’s results in China were disappointing, the Cadillac program remains in the early stages of building a competitive Formula 1 operation — one that will eventually have its home base in Fishers.