Sergio Perez celebrates his birthday, Cadillac celebrates its premiere: Why a small gift has great significance for the Formula 1 project
“Happy birthday to you” – the Cadillac team sings in unison as they gather on the first day of the 2026 Formula 1 shakedown in Barcelona to wish Sergio Perez a happy birthday. The Mexican turned 36 on this day.
To mark the special occasion, Cadillac presented its driver with a large cake topped with many lit candles. Perez grinned from ear to ear. Just before blowing them out, he said, “I think you all know what I want this year.” Three attempts later, all the candles were out – and loud cheers and applause broke out for birthday boy Perez. A social media video documents the scene.
But that’s not all: Cadillac team boss Graeme Lowdon presented his Formula 1 driver with a special gift—the first brake disc from the Cadillac project, mounted on a metal base as a display stand. A plaque reads: “Happy birthday, Checo. January 26, 2026. The first brake disc. Cadillac.”
A birthday celebration to remember in Barcelona pic.twitter.com/dZea2XsYIB
— Cadillac Formula 1 Team (@Cadillac_F1) January 26, 2026
Exactly what the team means by “first brake disc” remains unclear. Presumably, it refers to a brake disc that was used during the first test drive of the as-yet-unnamed Cadillac car. Perez had already completed the first laps in the newcomer’s first Formula 1 car at Silverstone on January 16, 2026. He subsequently spoke of a “great day” and said: “Everyone involved should be incredibly proud that we completed our first laps. Every single person worked so hard for this. It was emotional to be there when motorsport history was made. We should all enjoy that. But it just spurred me on even more.”
Perez is making his comeback as a regular driver in Formula 1 in 2026 after a year’s break. Since 2011, he has competed for Sauber, McLaren, Force India, Racing Point, and Red Bull. At the end of 2024, he lost his Red Bull cockpit, even though he had signed a contract extension just a few months earlier. Perez has won six Grand Prix races to date. In 2023, he finished second in the World Championship behind Max Verstappen.
