Why Cadillac has already exceeded expectations in F1, according to Alex Jacques

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Formula 1 commentator Alex Jacques has championed the new Cadillac F1 team for exceeding expectations in the first three rounds of the 2026 season.

The American outfit joined the championship in 2026 as the grid expanded to 11 teams. With the experienced driver lineup of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez under the leadership of team principal Graeme Lowdon, the team has already impressed, despite currently running 10th in the constructors' standings.

Comparing Cadillac to Aston Martin, Jacques said it "sounds mad" to praise the Lowdon-led team when it is equal on points with the Silverstone outfit, having just given a damning verdict on Aston Martin's start to the year.

"It sounds mad that we're going to go to a team that's nearly as far back as Aston Martin, and then I'm going to praise them because I thought they would be miles off the back," he said during an F1 season start debrief video.

"And at the Japanese Grand Prix, which is a real test qualifying session, a real test of the car that you've built, they were not too far away. There were predictions in the paddock that they were going to be five, six, seven seconds off, that they weren't going to add anything to Formula 1.

"And that could not be further from the truth. They've made a really good start. And if they can show good development, they're going to be part of the actual race rather than referring to them as the new team in Formula 1, as we have been for a while."

Former F1 driver and F1 TV presenter Jolyon Palmer admitted he may have had "punchier expectations" for the team, pointing to the extensive experience of the personnel in the team.

Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing, Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing