Cadillac has entered a new chapter in its debut Formula 1 season, with Marcin Budkowski replacing Graeme Lowdon as Team Principal. From fixing reliability problems to shaping the 2027 project, Budkowski has outlined his priorities for the American outfit.
Key Highlights
- Marcin Budkowski replaces Graeme Lowdon as Cadillac Team Principal with immediate effect.
- Budkowski’s immediate focus will be understanding the team and addressing its reliability problems.
- Cadillac remains confident that Sergio Perez will stay for 2027, with no driver changes currently planned.
- Budkowski wants to build a long-term structure capable of turning Cadillac into a competitive front-running team.
Why Cadillac Made Its Leadership Change
Lowdon played a major role in building Cadillac from the ground up ahead of its F1 debut, but TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss said a leadership change was “always the plan” as the team moved from its initial build phase into development.
Towriss confirmed that the decision was his and came after several months of discussions about what Cadillac’s next phase should look like. Budkowski ultimately emerged as the preferred choice, with the change arriving during the summer break.
Budkowski’s First Priority: Fix Reliability
Budkowski plans to spend his first days listening and observing rather than immediately making sweeping changes. He will visit the factory before travelling to Zandvoort, allowing him to understand both the factory operation and trackside team.
A major short-term concern is Cadillac’s reliability. Budkowski stressed that strong communication between the factory and trackside operation is essential when a team is struggling with reliability.
Beyond that, he wants to assess the organisation, processes and long-term strategy. Rather than expecting an instant transformation, Budkowski believes success in modern F1 requires people, resources and departments working in the same direction.
Cadillac Confident Perez Will Stay for 2027
Driver speculation has also surrounded Cadillac, particularly rumours linking Sergio Perez with Williams. However, Towriss expressed confidence that Perez will remain with the team, praising his performance and influence behind the scenes. He also confirmed that no changes are currently planned for Cadillac’s 2027 driver line-up, although he acknowledged that F1 circumstances can always change.
Budkowski similarly highlighted Perez’s experience and ability to push the organisation forward, describing that mindset as something Cadillac wants to retain.
Why Budkowski Chose Cadillac
Budkowski revealed that he had held discussions with more than half of the F1 teams during his time away from the sport. However, Cadillac stood out because of its ambition, financial backing from TWG Motorsports and General Motors, and leadership team with strong motorsport backgrounds.
The project’s long-term potential was another major attraction. Budkowski believes Cadillac has the ambition and resources to eventually become a competitive team capable of fighting at the front.
The 2026 Goal: Build Momentum for 2027
Budkowski is deliberately avoiding specific targets for points or qualifying positions during the second half of the season. Instead, the focus is on extracting every possible piece of performance while addressing reliability concerns. Towriss also stressed performance, upgrades, organisation and culture, with Cadillac aiming to improve communication, accountability and leadership.
The ultimate objective is to use the remainder of 2026 as a springboard into 2027—giving Budkowski time to understand the operation while putting the foundations in place for Cadillac’s next stage of F1 development.
