In the week leading up to Formula 1’s return to Zandvoort, Cadillac shocked the paddock by announcing a mid‑season leadership change: long‑time team principal Graeme Lowdon was removed from his post, and former Alpine director Marcin Budkowski was installed as his successor. The move was confirmed by Cadillac F1 chief executive Dan Towriss, who appeared alongside Budkowski in a press briefing shortly after the announcement to explain the rationale behind the decision and to tackle other pressing topics affecting the fledgling squad.
Although team‑principal turnovers have become more common in recent years – every constructor except Mercedes has swapped its boss at least once since the close of the 2022 season – such changes still rarely occur mid‑campaign. Football clubs may change managers on a weekly basis, but in Formula 1 a mid‑season exit remains a notable event.
Consequently, Lowdon’s abrupt dismissal, which had not been hinted at in any prior speculation, caught many observers off guard. Cadillac was only eleven races into its inaugural campaign and had consistently warned that the team would likely spend its first year battling at the back of the grid. Towriss explained that the original plan always involved Lowdon eventually handing over the reins to another figure who could guide the next phase of Cadillac’s development.
However, he admitted that “the timing for that transition arrived sooner than we anticipated.” He added, “Graeme and I have always talked about a future hand‑over; this decision was mine, driven by a narrow window of opportunity to build something fresh and innovative.” He emphasized that the change was not triggered by on‑track performance or the typical teething problems a new team experiences. Instead, Towriss stressed the importance of aligning the team’s progress with the ambitions of its owners. “I didn’t want to create a car that simply repeats what has already been done,” he said.
“The rate of development must match the vision of the organisation, and we felt the moment had arrived to bring in new leadership.” Reliability has indeed been a major obstacle for Cadillac this season. In the first seven races, the squad managed only a single race where both cars finished, with the MAC‑26 chassis repeatedly suffering from overheating brakes and other mechanical gremlins. Budkowski, who began his duties at the factory on the following Monday, warned that these reliability woes needed to be addressed “very, very urgently” if the team hoped to extract the full benefit of its upgrade packages.
He acknowledged that early‑season failures are understandable for a brand‑new operation: “It’s a new team, a new group of people, learning together and failing together. Failure is part of the learning curve in Formula 1.” Yet he also pointed out that each retirement deprives the engineers of valuable data. “Mileage equals data, and data equals understanding of the car.
Without finishing races we lose the insight needed to improve, so fixing reliability is paramount.” Cadillac’s driver line‑up reflects a deliberate strategy to blend experience with potential. The American‑backed outfit secured two seasoned veterans – Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas – who together have amassed more than 500 Grand Prix starts and 16 victories. So far, Perez has out‑performed Bottas and has been linked to a possible move to Williams for 2027, especially if Carlos Sainz departs his current seat.
Towriss, however, dismissed those rumors, stating his confidence that Perez will remain with Cadillac for the next season. “Checo has been a tremendous asset, driving exceptionally well and pushing the car hard.
We are not distracted by Williams chatter; we are certain he will continue piloting our car.” The team has also been rumored to be eyeing younger talent, notably Brazilian F3 champion Rafael Camara, who is currently third in his debut F2 season and enjoys backing from Ferrari. While Towriss expressed satisfaction with the current experienced duo, he did not rule out the prospect of adding a rising star in the future. “We constantly consider whether a younger driver could inject fresh energy into the team. At the moment there are no concrete plans for 2027, but the situation can always evolve.” For Budkowski, the Cadillac role marks his first full‑time position at a Formula 1 team since leaving his executive director post at Alpine at the start of 2022.
He brings a wealth of experience from three years heading the FIA’s technical department (until 2017) and a stint at Renault, making this his fifth different F1 organisation. Backed by General Motors, Cadillac intends eventually to develop its own power unit, and Budkowski’s background on both the regulatory and team sides positions him well to navigate the sport’s complex rulebook.
When asked how the sport has changed during his four‑year hiatus from a front‑line role, Budkowski observed, “The competition is ruthlessly fierce. Every team is highly professional, and the regulations may evolve, but the game remains the same.” He highlighted the strategic importance of influencing future regulations: “It’s not just about complying with the current rulebook; it’s about steering the regulatory environment in a way that benefits our long‑term goals.” He also noted that the cost‑cap era has eliminated the ability to simply buy performance, making meticulous attention to detail essential. Towriss reinforced that Cadillac’s ultimate aim is to win, not merely to exist on the grid.
He spoke of a dual‑focus strategy: short‑term improvements to address immediate reliability and performance gaps, and long‑term investments to stay ahead of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. “We are far from being a championship‑winning team, but that is the end goal for everyone involved.
The sport is undergoing massive regulatory and societal changes, with AI beginning to play a role. Future F1 teams will look very different, and we must evolve our operations accordingly.” The 2024 season will resume after the summer hiatus with a sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort from August 21‑23, broadcast live on Sky Sports. Cadillac hopes that the leadership change, coupled with urgent reliability fixes and a clear vision for the future, will enable the team to climb the standings and lay the groundwork for a competitive presence in the years to come.