Checo Pérez faces a major technical issue in Cadillac

Sergio “Checo” Pérez’ return to Formula 1 with Cadillac is proving more challenging than expected. On Friday, during the Chinese Grand Prix 2026 sprint qualifying, the Mexican driver could not hit the track due to a fuel pump failure, a problem he admitted has been ongoing since pre-season testing.

“It was a fuel pump issue. We haven’t been able to fix it, and this has happened many times before,” said Pérez, visibly frustrated. This incident leaves him with a very difficult starting position, as he will start from last place, just behind his teammate Valtteri Bottas, who is also struggling this weekend.

Threats to the sprint and the Chinese Grand Prix

The technical failure not only prevented Checo from showing his true potential in qualifying but also puts his participation in the sprint and the main race at risk. According to Pérez, the team is working “very hard from the factory” to try to solve the issue, but there is no guarantee of success.

If the problem persists, Cadillac could face a logistical and competitive disaster, leaving its drivers unable to score valuable points. “We had the same problem this morning, so now everything is a race against time,” Pérez said, making it clear that the pressure on the team is enormous.