Cadillac F1 brake overheating forces Valtteri Bottas retirement at Hungarian Grand Prix

The American Cadillac Formula 1 team has identified insufficient brake‑cooling airflow as the cause of recurring brake‑overheating problems that have plagued its debut 2026 season. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, driver Valtteri Bottas retired on lap 15 after his left‑front brake caught fire, forcing him to use the pit wall to slow the car and extinguish the blaze himself. The team had introduced new front brake ducts for the Hungaroring, but the extreme heat and track layout still overwhelmed the system.

Similar brake failures have occurred at the Austrian, Monaco and Barcelona rounds, and teammate Sergio Perez also failed to finish in Hungary, though his retirement was due to a front‑suspension issue. Cadillac officials say no definitive fix will be ready for the upcoming race at Zandvoort, leaving the team to focus on longer‑term solutions for next season.