Cadillac has announced a leadership overhaul within its Formula 1 operation, relieving Graeme Lowdon of his duties as team principal and installing Marcin Budkowski at the helm. The organization describes the move as part of a "planned leadership transition," a phrase that suggests the change was anticipated, even though there had been no public hint that Lowdon would depart before the team’s inaugural season concluded. Budkowski, a 49‑year‑old engineer of Polish‑French heritage, most recently served as the executive director of Alpine, a role he vacated in 2022. His résumé includes stints at some of the sport’s most storied outfits – Prost, Ferrari, McLaren and even a period working for the FIA – before he joined the Renault‑Alpine programme.
With his extensive experience, Cadillac hopes to accelerate the development of a competitive car and instill a winning culture throughout the organization. The first Grand Prix under Budkowski’s stewardship will be the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, scheduled for August 21‑23 after the sport’s four‑week summer hiatus.
That race will mark the team’s eleventh start in the 2026 season, and so far Cadillac remains the only newcomer that has yet to score a championship point. The lack of points has been compounded by a string of reliability problems: across the first eleven rounds, drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas have suffered nine retirements, and in the last seven events the team has managed to see both cars cross the finish line only once. Cadillac’s chief executive, Dan Towriss, explained the rationale behind the change. He said, "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." Towriss also paid tribute to Lowdon, acknowledging his role in assembling the project from the ground up. "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," the executive said.
In a virtual press conference later that Wednesday, Towriss confirmed that the decision to dismiss Lowdon was his alone and that the British manager had been informed only a few hours before the public announcement. "It was my decision, it wasn’t a mutual decision," he told reporters.
"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. Then the capabilities of the various folks out there became clear, and we were delighted in the conversation with Marcin and how that relationship evolved." He added that the timing of the change was inevitably abrupt.
"Graeme and I spoke this morning. It is a very recent conversation.
There’s no easy way to make this transition within Formula 1. Imagine the press if Marcin was strolling through for a tour of the factory, or having these conversations.
It becomes destabilising at that point. It’s important to respect the leadership that’s in place at that time, so it does compress the timeline in how these things come together.
It makes it feel more abrupt than it would be otherwise. But it’s the nature of F1 and the way it had to happen." Budkowski, when asked about his vision for the team, emphasized the importance of maximising development within the sport’s cost‑cap regulations and creating a cohesive, elite organisation. "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 said. He continued, "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 broader context of Cadillac’s 2026 campaign is worth noting. As a brand entering Formula 1 for the first time, the American manufacturer has faced the steep learning curve that all newcomers encounter: building a chassis from scratch, integrating a power unit, and establishing effective communication between aerodynamics, mechanics and strategy departments.
The early reliability woes – multiple retirements and an inability to finish both cars in most races – are not unusual for a rookie team, yet they have placed additional pressure on senior management to deliver results quickly. Analysts suggest that Budkowski’s appointment could signal a shift toward a more structured, data‑driven approach.
His background at Alpine involved overseeing technical development under strict budgetary constraints, an experience that aligns well with the sport’s recent emphasis on cost control. Moreover, his time at Ferrari and McLaren exposed him to different engineering philosophies, potentially allowing him to blend the best practices from each organisation.
Looking ahead, the Dutch Grand Prix will serve as a litmus test for the new leadership. The circuit’s fast, flowing corners and demanding braking zones provide an excellent platform to assess aerodynamic efficiency and tyre management – two areas where Cadillac has struggled. If Budkowski can extract incremental performance gains and improve reliability, the team may finally break its points drought. In summary, Cadillac’s decision to replace Graeme Lowdon with Marcin Budkowski reflects a strategic pivot aimed at accelerating the team’s competitive development.
While the transition has been described as abrupt, it underscores the high‑stakes environment of Formula 1, where teams must constantly adapt to stay relevant. With Budkowski’s extensive experience and a clear mandate to optimise every facet of the operation, Cadillac hopes to move from a struggling newcomer to a genuine contender in the seasons to come.