Sergio Perez armed with fresh Cadillac weapon in Baku happy hunting ground

Sergio Perez is to be armed with Ferrari's latest ADUO-upgraded engine as Cadillac hunts for its first points at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Perez, with two wins, a second, and a third, is the most successful driver in the history of the Azerbaijan GP, and last raced in Baku in 2024 before being dropped by Red Bull for 2025.

The Mexican won in both 2021 and 2023, before finishing second in 2022 and banked third in 2018 at a track he has always excelled on, even contending for pole position before a crash for Force India in 2016, when the race was formally the European Grand Prix.

Speaking after the Spanish GP last time out, Perez explained that he was hopeful of being afforded the upgraded Ferrari engine, which the works team introduced for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in Italy.

Oliver Bearman also took the unit there, but Esteban Ocon and Cadillac drivers Perez and Valtteri Bottas have not yet done so, despite it being available. 

The MAC-26 chassis will also be boosted by more aerodynamic upgrades as Perez aims to break Cadillac's points duck, with the team's best finish thus far being 13th for Bottas in China. Perez had finished 10th in Monaco, before a post-race penalty stripped him of the point.

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Perez hoping for good rhythm

The last time Perez raced in Azerbaijan was in 2024, during his terrible run of form towards the end of his four-year stay at Red Bull.

However, one bright light was his performance in Baku, where he out-qualified Max Verstappen on pure merit, and was racing for second place with the Ferraris of Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in the closing laps.

When battling with Sainz out of Turn 2, the two drivers tangled, spitting both into the concrete barrier and into retirement. 

Looking ahead to returning, Perez is hopeful that his record can stand the team in good stead.

"Our race in Madrid was going very well until we had to retire the car, possibly the strongest we’ve been all season, and I’m eager to get back out and try to replicate that this weekend," he said.

"Baku is a circuit where I’ve had a lot of success in the past, and the hope is to hit the ground running, get into a good rhythm across the practice sessions, and deliver a good result the team deserves."