Cadillac sack Lowdon: CEO explains shock team principal switch

In a surprise move, Cadillac Formula 1 CEO Dan Towriss has broken his silence over the sacking of Graeme Lowdon as team principal, with Marcin Budkowski taking over with immediate effect. The decision lands just 11 races into the team's debut season.

Lowdon was instrumental in securing Cadillac's F1 entry, having worked alongside Towriss for four years. But now he has been pushed aside in favour of former Alpine executive director Budkowski. Towriss was quick to clarify that the call was his alone, not a mutual parting.

"It was my decision; it wasn't a mutual decision," Towriss told media. "The process really started a few months ago to explore what the next phase for Cadillac Formula 1 looks like, the right timing, and the capabilities of the various folks out there. We were delighted with the conversation with Marcin and how that relationship evolved."

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Lowdon and Towriss spoke on the morning of the announcement. "There's no easy way to make this transition within Formula 1," Towriss added. He also explained the abrupt nature: "Can you imagine the press if Marcin's strolling through for a tour of the factory or we're having these conversations? It becomes destabilising at that point. So it's important to respect the purview of the leadership in place, which compresses the decision-making timeline."

The news broke midway through the summer shutdown, with the official release mentioning Lowdon only once and no reason given. Towriss acknowledged that a transition was always planned but came sooner than expected. "I wouldn't say it's the performance or teething issues," he said. "It's about having a clear vision on what we're building in the future and making sure that matches the ambitions of ownership."

Remarkably, this switch happened without any paddock speculation, and Lowdon himself gave no hint in recent media appearances. Towriss denied that Lowdon was ever seen as an interim boss. "I don't think it's fair to say he was here in an interim capacity," he said. "It really was a function of performance and how things evolved. I have immense respect for Graeme; we've been through a lot together."

With Budkowski now at the helm, Cadillac enters a new chapter. The pressure is on for the American squad to show progress, while Lowdon's legacy as the founding architect will not be forgotten.