Crossword Genius

Caution ex-PM, cycling on motorway in front of Tesla (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mistrust

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'caution' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both human attributes as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'ex-pm cycling on motorway in front of tesla' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'motorway' could be 'mi' (resembles M1, English motorway) and 'mi' is found within the answer.
'tesla' could be 't' (scientific unit) and 't' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mistrust that I've seen before include "Have no confidence in (someone)" , "Have doubts about" , "Regard with suspicion" , "reservations" , "Lack of belief (in someone)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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