Cadillac Replace Team Principal Midway Through Debut F1 Season

Cadillac F1 Team made a surprise decision during the F1 summer break by replacing team principal Graeme Lowdon. His position is now filled by Marcin Budkowski, former Alpine executive director, who will lead the team starting from next weekend's Dutch Grand Prix.

The announcement came on Wednesday (Aug 13) and immediately sparked speculation in the paddock. The team, which debuted in F1 this season, has yet to score a single point from 11 rounds, with nine retirements and a best finish of P13. However, Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss insisted that the change is not a reaction to poor performance but part of a planned transition from the start.

“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,” Towriss said. “Marcin brings exceptional F1 experience, technical expertise and strategic leadership that will strengthen our organisation.”

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Lowdon, who was credited with building the team from scratch, received thanks from Towriss. “His contributions helped establish a strong foundation in our build-up phase, and we thank him for his commitment and wish him well,” he added.

Budkowski, 49, brings over two decades of F1 experience, including senior roles at Prost, Ferrari, McLaren, FIA, and Renault/Alpine. He is known for his deep understanding of technical and regulatory matters. His first task will be to sharpen Cadillac's operational performance and accelerate car development within the cost cap.

“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,” Budkowski said. “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.”

With his experience and fresh approach, Budkowski is expected to lift Cadillac off the bottom of the standings. Fans will be eager to see if the change brings immediate results at Zandvoort or if it takes longer to bear fruit.