Cadillac makes first major change of its F1 project

Cadillac has abruptly replaced team principal Graeme Lowdon with former Alpine chief Marcin Budkowski after only 11 races of the American team’s debut Formula 1 season.

The General Motors-backed squad entered the championship at the start of 2026 after a lengthy approval process for a project that began life as Andretti. Lowdon had led the operation since December 2024 and helped build the team for more than two years, but his tenure ended during the summer break with Cadillac still without a point and last among the 11 constructors.

‘It wasn’t a mutual decision’

Cadillac described the appointment as part of “a planned leadership transition” from its initial build phase into a period focused on racing performance. But CEO Dan Towriss acknowledged that the change was neither orderly nor mutually agreed.

“This decision was mine,” Towriss said. “The time for that change came sooner than was expected.”

Towriss said he informed Lowdon of the decision on the morning of the announcement. Budkowski, who was named Lowdon’s successor only hours later, said he had not yet visited Cadillac’s Silverstone base or met his new staff, underlining the sudden nature of the move.

“It wasn’t a mutual decision,” Towriss later added, while saying that he and Lowdon had always discussed the possibility of a transition at some point. Lowdon has not publicly offered his side of the decision.

Budkowski inherits reliability and cultural problems

Budkowski will begin work at the factory immediately, with reliability identified as his most urgent task. Cadillac managed only one two-car finish in the seven races before the summer break, while overheating brakes and other failures repeatedly compromised its MAC-26 car.

“We need to fix the reliability problems very, very urgently,” Budkowski said. He warned that failures were preventing the team from gathering race mileage and understanding the upgrade packages it was bringing to the circuit.

“There’s no point in developing if you can’t race the parts that you’re bringing,” he said.

Towriss also conceded that communication problems and a silo culture exist at Cadillac’s Silverstone operation. He said Budkowski’s technical background, leadership and communication skills would help accelerate the resolution of those early-stage organizational issues.

Experience replaces the launch-phase leadership

Budkowski, 49, brings experience from Prost, Ferrari, McLaren and the FIA, where he led Formula 1’s technical department before joining Renault. He later became executive director of the Renault operation, which was rebranded Alpine, and led the team during the 2021 season, when it won the Hungarian Grand Prix with Esteban Ocon.

Since leaving Alpine in early 2022, Budkowski has worked mainly as a television pundit. His appointment marks a shift toward a leader Cadillac believes can shape the team’s technical structure and long-term competitive strategy.

“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.

Budkowski said Cadillac must become “the best everywhere” while operating under Formula 1’s cost cap, arguing that teams can no longer buy performance or spend their way out of mistakes. He also pointed to future regulatory changes and artificial intelligence as factors that will influence the shape of successful F1 organizations.

Cadillac expects Perez to stay for 2027

The leadership change also prompted questions about Cadillac’s driver lineup. The team signed Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas for its first season, valuing their combined experience, and Towriss said he was “very confident” Perez would remain with Cadillac in 2027 despite speculation linking him with Williams.

“Checo has been a tremendous asset to the team,” Towriss said. “We’re very confident in the relationship here and that you’re going to see him piloting the Cadillac F1 car.”

Cadillac has also been linked with younger prospects, including Ferrari-backed Brazilian Rafael Camara, but Towriss said there were no planned driver changes at present. The team’s next race is the Dutch Grand Prix, which begins Formula 1’s return from its summer break on August 21.