Photos: an all-black Ferrari SF-23 is running at Imola amid preparations for 2026 F1 season. Cadillac takes to the track at Imola with an all-black Ferrari SF-23.

Future testing at Imola: Cadillac takes to the track with an all-black Ferrari

Cadillac held a test day at Imola, with Sergio Perez behind the wheel of a completely black Ferrari SF-23. This test is part of a two-day program that will continue tomorrow, allowing the American team’s engineers to use the session as a crucial proving ground to refine internal procedures and gain hands-on experience necessary to manage a Formula 1 car.

The 2026 season begins to take shape

The 2026 season is starting to take form with Audi unveiling the R26 concept and Cadillac completing its first laps. Two new teams are set to join the grid – even though the Four Rings will take over from the current Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber – highlighting the commitment of two major manufacturers to the sport. This represents a win for the entire F1 community, which continues to grow and expand.

Both projects are ambitious yet realistic. Gernot Döllner, CEO of Audi in Ingolstadt, has set a goal to win by 2030 but has acknowledged that transforming the team into a top competitor will be a long and challenging process. The American team, on the other hand, is awaiting the arrival of General Motors power units in the coming years. For now, the cars driven by Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are powered by Ferrari engines.

Cadillac at Imola with an all-black Ferrari SF-23

The Ferrari partnership goes beyond engine supply. Cadillac is a new team, consisting of engineers, technicians, and mechanics who must integrate, study, and refine their procedures to achieve the efficiency needed to compete at the highest levels of motorsport. However, this preparation would be impossible without a car to work on, and the 2026 chassis is not yet ready to hit the track.

That’s where Ferrari comes in to support the newcomers. The Maranello team “lent” two days of track time to Cadillac, allowing them to run at Imola in a neutral-liveried SF-23. The program began today with Sergio Perez driving the car, and the Mexican driver will return to the track tomorrow before handing the car back to Ferrari’s Sporting Management.