Cadillac announced a major shake‑up within its Formula 1 operation, relieving Graeme Lowdon of his duties as team principal and installing former Alpine executive Marcin Budkowski at the helm. The move, described by the organization as part of a "planned leadership transition," comes as the American‑backed outfit continues to struggle for points during its inaugural 2026 campaign.
Budkowski, a 49‑year‑old engineer with Polish‑French heritage, last worked in Formula 1 as the executive director of Alpine, a role he vacated in 2022. His appointment marks his return to the sport after a four‑year hiatus, and his first race in charge will be the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, scheduled for August 21‑23 following the sport's four‑week summer break. Graeme Lowdon was brought on to lead the Cadillac project in December 2024, overseeing the team's preparation and entry onto the grid. Under his guidance the squad assembled a driver line‑up featuring former World Champion Sergio Pérez and experienced Finnish racer Valtteri Bottas.
Despite the high‑profile roster, Cadillac has yet to score a championship point after the first eleven rounds of the season, making it the only team still awaiting its maiden point. Cadillac's chief executive, Dan Towriss, explained the rationale behind the change: "Marcin's appointment marks another important step in the continued evolution of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team. From the beginning, our goal has not been simply to participate in Formula 1, but to build a next‑generation team capable of competing at the very front.
As we enter this new era, Marcin brings exceptional F1 experience, technical expertise and strategic leadership that will strengthen our organisation and help us develop the winning mindset, tools and processes required for long‑term success." While the team statement framed the switch as a pre‑planned transition, there had been no prior indication that Lowdon would depart before the conclusion of Cadillac's debut season. The timing suggests the decision was influenced by the team's on‑track performance.
Cadillac has suffered nine retirements across Pérez and Bottas in the first eleven races, and reliability has deteriorated, with both cars reaching the chequered flag in only one of the last seven events. Towriss added a note of gratitude for Lowdon's contributions: "We're grateful to Graeme Lowdon for his leadership and the role he played in forming the Cadillac Formula 1 Team from the ground up.
His contributions helped establish a strong foundation in our build‑up phase, and we thank him for his commitment and wish him well." In a virtual press conference later that Wednesday, Towriss confirmed that the dismissal was his unilateral decision and that Lowdon was informed only hours before the public announcement. "It was my decision, it wasn't a mutual decision," Towriss said.
"The process started a few months ago to explore what the next phase for Cadillac F1 looks like, the right timing, and how that would look." He continued, describing the difficulty of managing a leadership change in the middle of a season: "Graeme and I spoke this morning. It's a very recent conversation. There's no easy way to make this transition within Formula 1. Imagine the press if Marcin were simply strolling through the factory or having casual conversations.
It becomes destabilising. It's important to respect the leadership that's in place at that time, so it compresses the timeline and makes it feel more abrupt than it would be otherwise. But that's the nature of F1 and the way it had to happen." Budkowski's résumé includes stints at Prost, Ferrari, McLaren and the FIA before his four‑year spell at Renault/Alpine. When asked about his new role, he said: "Cadillac Formula 1 Team has an extraordinary foundation and ambition.
This is a phase of huge opportunity for the team, one that will be defined by a clear objective: maximising car development within the cost cap and turning every team function on to compete. That means building an elite organisation with a winning mindset—driven, relentless in the face of setbacks, obsessed with detail and process, and able to execute with precision on race day." He added, "My focus will be on aligning our people, tools and information flow so the right decisions are made quickly, and the performance of the car improves every time we go racing. It is a privilege to be leading Cadillac Formula 1 Team's on‑track efforts, starting in Zandvoort next weekend." The Dutch Grand Prix will serve as a sprint weekend, offering both a sprint race and a traditional Grand Prix, providing Budkowski an immediate chance to assess the team's performance under his direction. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available through NOW without a long‑term contract.
Cadillac's challenges are typical for a brand‑new entrant: mastering the intricate aerodynamics, integrating hybrid power units, and navigating the tightly regulated cost cap while trying to extract performance from a car that has yet to finish a race consistently. The leadership change signals a desire to accelerate the learning curve, inject seasoned strategic thinking, and perhaps reshape the engineering philosophy that has so far left the team lagging behind more established rivals. If Budkowski can harness the experience of his seasoned driver lineup, improve reliability, and streamline decision‑making processes, Cadillac may begin to close the gap to the midfield. However, the road ahead remains steep, and the next few races will be crucial in determining whether the new leadership can translate ambition into tangible results on the track.