Cadillac Appoints Marcin Budkowski as New F1 Team Principal

In a surprising turn of events, Cadillac has officially appointed Marcin Budkowski as its new team principal, replacing Graeme Lowdon, who had been leading the team since December 2024. The reshuffle comes just ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, where Cadillac is still fighting to score their first points in their debut season.

Budkowski is no stranger to the world of racing. The Polish-born, French-educated engineer brings over 25 years of experience in Formula 1, having worked as an aerodynamicist for Prost, Ferrari, and McLaren, before heading the FIA's technical department. He later joined Renault as executive director and shared team principal duties with Davide Brivio in 2021.

“Cadillac Formula 1 Team has an extraordinary foundation and ambition,” Budkowski said in an official statement. “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.”

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Budkowski's primary focus will be on aligning people, tools, and information flow to enable quick decision-making. He also aims to improve car performance at every race. “It is a privilege to be leading Cadillac Formula 1 Team's on-track efforts, starting in Zandvoort next weekend,” he added.

Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss welcomed the appointment. “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.” Towriss also thanked Lowdon for his contributions in building the team from the ground up.

This change comes amid Cadillac's adaptation as a new team. They currently sit at the bottom of the constructors' standings, and their factory infrastructure in Indiana is still being finalized. Budkowski's task is clear: to lift the team from the back of the grid and secure their first championship points in the remainder of the season.