Marcin Budkowski officially took over as Cadillac team principal ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, replacing Graeme Lowdon in a surprising move. In his first media appearance, Budkowski revealed plans to hold talks with several parties at Zandvoort, including Ferrari, their current engine supplier.
The decision to replace Lowdon—who built the team from scratch and secured its place on the grid—was unexpected. Budkowski, who had been a TV pundit since 2023 after leaving Alpine, now faces his first role as team boss in F1. The Pole has an engineering background and extensive experience with top teams like Prost, Ferrari, McLaren, and Alpine, working with both manufacturers and customer outfits.
Amid this leadership transition, Budkowski is immediately confronted with a strategic question: how long will Cadillac rely on Ferrari engines? The American squad's ambition is clear—they want to build their own power unit in the future. However, the unclear engine regulations make that timeline difficult to pin down.
"I have experience working with a manufacturer team, and this is what this team will become in a few years' time when the time is right and when we have a bit more clarity on the engine regulations," Budkowski told select media, including RacingNews365. "I hope to have a few discussions this weekend with the higher instances of the sport to get up to speed because I haven't been part of these discussions for a while."
Despite long-term plans, Budkowski emphasized that the relationship with Ferrari is currently positive. "We're happy with the relationship with Ferrari, and the power unit is competitive. I think the relationship is going well. So that's, for the time being, how we're set up, and we're happy with Ferrari as a partner," he added.
Budkowski's arrival in the Zandvoort paddock has sparked curiosity. Can he take Cadillac further? Or will this change disrupt the team's momentum as they fight at the back of the grid? All eyes are now on the 49-year-old.
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