Cadillac has made a major change at the top of its Formula 1 operation, bringing in experienced engineer and former Alpine chief Marcin Budkowski to replace Graeme Lowdon as Team Principal with immediate effect.
Key Takeaways:
- Cadillac F1 has replaced Team Principal Graeme Lowdon with former Alpine chief Marcin Budkowski with immediate effect.
- Lowdon played a central role in building Cadillac's Formula 1 project from the ground up alongside Dan Towriss.
- Cadillac entered the summer break without scoring its maiden F1 point while continuing to struggle with recurring brake overheating issues.
- Budkowski brings extensive experience from Ferrari, McLaren, Renault/Alpine, and the FIA, and will focus on improving reliability and closing the midfield gap.
Cadillac F1 Makes Major Leadership Shake-Up
The American squad made its F1 debut in Australia earlier this season, just over a year after receiving approval to join the championship. Lowdon had been appointed Team Principal at the end of 2024 and played a key role in preparing the new team for its arrival on the grid.
Working alongside TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss, Lowdon spearheaded the enormous task of building the project from a blank sheet of paper. That included recruiting staff, establishing the infrastructure, and developing the team's first Formula 1 car.
The work culminated in Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas lining up for Cadillac's debut in Australia, with the new team earning respect from its rivals through its early performances.
Cadillac's Progress Stalls Amid Reliability Problems
However, Cadillac's first season has not been without difficulties. As the team entered the summer break, it was still searching for its maiden Formula 1 point, while its progress was hampered by disappointing reliability. One of the biggest problems has been a recurring issue with overheating brakes. Despite bringing fixes to several events, Cadillac has yet to fully resolve the problem, slowing the team's development.
Cadillac always understood that competing in Formula 1 would be difficult and that becoming a contender would take time. But with the project being highly ambitious and well-funded, the combination of slow progress and a persistent reliability issue became increasingly frustrating.
Behind the scenes, the team had reportedly been reviewing its senior leadership structure for some time, with current and former senior paddock personnel approached about potentially joining the operation. Following weeks of discussions, Dan Towriss and General Motors leadership ultimately decided that a change was needed, bringing Lowdon's tenure as Team Principal to an end and appointing Budkowski as his replacement.
Why Marcin Budkowski Is Cadillac's Ideal Replacement
Budkowski arrives with a wealth of Formula 1 experience. An engineer by trade, he has worked with championship-winning teams including Ferrari, McLaren and Renault, the latter under the Alpine brand. His experience extends beyond engineering departments. Budkowski has also worked with the FIA across its sporting and technical divisions and previously led a team of more than 700 people during his senior leadership role at Alpine.
Another advantage for Cadillac was his immediate availability. Rather than being tied up by a lengthy gardening leave period, Budkowski was able to take the role straight away, having been focused on several projects, including broadcasting for Polish television. That made him a natural fit for what Cadillac describes as its next phase: moving from the “initial build phase into the next stage of racing performance.”
Budkowski's First Challenge: Fixing Cadillac's F1 Weaknesses
Budkowski began work on Wednesday and is due at Cadillac's factory in Silverstone on Monday as he starts settling into the project. His next destination will be Zandvoort, where the Formula 1 season resumes, with 12 Grands Prix still remaining.
The new Team Principal is expected to spend the next few months assessing the operation before deciding what changes and strengthening measures are required. More staff are also believed to be set to join the team in the future. His immediate priority, however, will be tackling Cadillac's recurring reliability problems.
Budkowski's aerodynamic and leadership experience will be crucial as the team looks to resolve those issues before turning its attention to adding performance and closing the gap to the midfield.
That transformation will not happen overnight. But with Budkowski arriving early enough to use the second half of the season to establish new processes and test different approaches, Cadillac now has a valuable opportunity to accelerate its development.
