Cadillac has successfully addressed its major brake overheating problem by reducing front brake temperatures by 100 degrees Celsius, according to Valtteri Bottas. The brake issues had forced Bottas into retirement at Hungary, Monaco and Austria, while also taking teammate Sergio Perez out of the Red Bull Ring race.
The overheating problems meant Cadillac drivers had to nurse the brakes throughout recent races, including the Spanish Grand Prix. Initial updates to the inlet scoop and aperture surfaces at the Hungaroring provided little improvement, but upgraded cooling inlet and exit duct profiles introduced at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix proved more successful.
The hot conditions at Malaysia's Sepang circuit this weekend will serve as a significant test for the brake cooling improvements. Meanwhile, Perez described Ferrari's ADUO 2 power unit upgrade as worth just a tenth and a half, noting it was not quite the step they needed but that everything counts.
Cadillac recently announced three key engineering signings to strengthen their technical department. Former Red Bull chief designer Craig Skinner joins as chief development engineer, former Aston Martin deputy technical chief Eric Blandin becomes head of aerodynamics, and Tim Lean arrives as chief engineer for aerodynamics modelling and simulation after working at McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari.