Cadillac announced the termination of Graeme Lowdon's tenure as team principal and confirmed that Marcin Budkowski will take over the helm of the outfit. The change is being framed by the 2026 newcomers as part of a "planned leadership transition," although the timing suggests a more abrupt shift. Budkowski, a 49‑year‑old engineer with Polish‑French roots, previously served as the executive director of Alpine until his departure in 2022.
His appointment comes at a challenging moment for Cadillac, which remains the only team on the 2026 grid that has yet to score a championship point after the first eleven rounds of competition. The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, scheduled for August 21‑23 following the sport's four‑week summer hiatus, will mark Budkowski's inaugural race as the head of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team.
The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and streamed via NOW without a contractual commitment. Lowdon was hired as the project's team principal in December 2024. During his brief spell, he oversaw the American‑backed entry's preparation for its debut season and helped secure a driver line‑up featuring former world champion Sergio Pérez and experienced Finnish racer Valtteri Bottas. In a statement, Cadillac F1 chief executive Dan Towriss praised Lowdon's contributions, saying, "Graeme Lowdon played a pivotal role in building the Cadillac Formula 1 Team from the ground up, establishing a solid foundation during our formative phase.
We thank him for his dedication and wish him success in his future endeavours." Towriss also highlighted Budkowski's credentials, noting that the new principal brings a wealth of Formula 1 experience, technical know‑how, and strategic insight. "From the outset, our ambition has never been merely to participate; we aim to create a next‑generation outfit capable of challenging at the front of the grid. Marcin's appointment represents a significant step in that evolution, providing the leadership and expertise needed to develop the winning mindset, tools, and processes essential for sustained success," Towriss said.
While the official team communiqué framed the change as a pre‑planned transition, there had been no prior indication that Lowdon would be removed before the conclusion of Cadillac's debut season. The lack of points and a spate of reliability problems have likely accelerated the decision. Over the first eleven races, the team suffered nine retirements between Pérez and Bottas, and only once in the last seven events did both cars reach the chequered flag. Reliability has deteriorated as the season progressed, a concern that may have contributed to the leadership shake‑up.
In a virtual press conference, Towriss confirmed that the decision to dismiss Lowdon was unilateral and that the British executive was informed only a few hours before the public announcement. "It was my decision, not a mutual one," he explained.
"We began evaluating the next phase for Cadillac F1 several months ago, considering timing, structure, and the capabilities of potential successors. Marcin emerged as the clear choice, and the conversation with him evolved positively." Towriss admitted that the abrupt timing created challenges: "Imagine the press reaction if Marcin were simply touring the factory or holding informal talks.
It would destabilise the team. Respecting the existing leadership meant compressing the transition timeline, making it appear more sudden than it might have been under different circumstances.
This is the nature of Formula 1, and it had to happen this way." Budkowski's résumé includes stints at Prost, Ferrari, McLaren, and the FIA before joining Renault/Alpine, where he spent four years in senior technical roles. He expressed enthusiasm for his new challenge, stating, "The Cadillac Formula 1 Team possesses an extraordinary foundation and ambition. We are entering a phase of immense opportunity, defined by a clear objective: maximise car development within the cost cap and align every department to compete at the highest level." He continued, "Building an elite organisation requires a winning mindset—driven, relentless in the face of setbacks, obsessed with detail and process, and capable of executing with precision on race day.
My focus will be on synchronising our people, tools, and information flow so that decisions are made swiftly and the car's performance improves with each outing. It is a privilege to lead Cadillac's on‑track efforts, starting at Zandvoort next weekend." The Dutch Grand Prix will feature a Sprint weekend, offering fans a condensed race format in addition to the traditional Grand Prix. All sessions will be available live on Sky Sports, and viewers can stream the coverage via NOW without a binding contract, with the option to cancel at any time. In summary, Cadillac's leadership change reflects both the pressures of a difficult debut season and the team's determination to accelerate its development trajectory.
By appointing a seasoned figure like Marcin Budkowski, the organization signals its intent to transform early struggles into a platform for future competitiveness, hoping that the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix will serve as the first step toward a more promising campaign.