Cadillac’s breakthrough moment, scoring their first point in Formula 1, but that joy lasted less than an hour for the American team.

Sergio Perez crossed the line in 10th during Sunday’s chaotic Monaco Grand Prix, seemingly securing the team’s first-ever point, only for stewards to hand him a 10-second post-race penalty that dropped him to 15th.

The Mexican driver’s grid infringement at the red-flag restart proved decisive in the streets of Monte Carlo. What should have been a landmark afternoon for the American squad turned into bitter disappointment as their debut season continued its steep learning curve.

Perez experienced an eventful afternoon in Monte Carlo, one that summed up Cadillac’s up-and-down campaign so far. He had already served a drive-through penalty during the race for lining up in the wrong grid slot at the original start and received a reprimand for a practice start in the wrong position on the formation lap.

“The stewards heard from the driver of Car 11 [Perez], [a Cadillac] team representative, and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video and in-car video evidence,” the stewards’ verdict read. “Video evidence showed clearly that the front-right wheel of Car 11 was outside the starting box. The standard penalty is applied.”

Latest setback adds pressure on Cadillac

The incident-packed Grand Prix featured multiple crashes, Safety Cars, and a full red flag, creating constant chaos around the tight Principality circuit. Perez had battled his way into points contention amid the mayhem, only for the late penalty to erase the reward.

This latest setback adds to the pressure on the Cadillac as the team fights to establish itself in F1’s ultra-competitive field. While the pace showed glimpses of promise in qualifying and race conditions, execution and discipline remain key areas for immediate improvement.

Perez will undoubtedly feel the frustration most acutely after fighting through a difficult afternoon only to see the result taken away. For Cadillac, it’s another hard lesson in the margins that define success at this level, especially on a street circuit where every detail counts.

The team now heads into the next round determined to convert potential into tangible results, with the search for that elusive first point continuing. In Monaco, they came painfully close, only for the stewards’ decision to deliver a cruel twist in what had been a dramatic race.