The much-anticipated first Formula 1 matchup between Ford and Cadillac was like an old Mike Tyson fight, with the Blue Oval brand scoring a quick knockout.
The Cadillac F1 pair of Sergio Perez and Valterri Bottas was eliminated during the first round of qualifying, finishing a desperate three seconds off of the leader in the 18th and 19th positions, which put them last among cars that recorded times during the session.
Max Verstappen, driving a Red Bull Ford Powertrains-powered Red Bull, was one of the cars that didn’t put a time on the board, as he wrecked during his hot lap due to an apparent technical malfunction.
Ford has four cars in the series, however, with Verstappen’s teammate Isack Hadjar in the other Red Bull and Liam Lawson and Irvin Lindblad in the Racing Bulls cars. All three made it to the third and final round, with Hadjar taking a career-best third behind the Mercedes-AMG pair of George Russel and Kimi Antonelli. Lawson finished 8th and Lindblad 9th.
The American-owned Haas F1 Team, which is entering its second decade in the series this season, saw its drivers, Oliver Bearman and Estebon Ocon, eliminated during Q2 in 12th and 13th spots.
Of course, Ford v Cadillac isn’t exactly a straight matchup, as Ford is only in a powertrain partnership with Red Bull, while Cadillac is building its own chassis and using Ferrari powertrains in its inaugural season. Nevertheless, bragging rights are bragging rights and Ford has them until the checkered flag waves for the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday in Melbourne.
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