Cadillac Appoints Budkowski as New Team Principal

Marcin Budkowski is set to assume the role of Team Principal for the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, marking a significant leadership change for the squad in its inaugural season. He steps in for Graeme Lowdon, who was instrumental in establishing the team from its inception and overseeing its entry into the world championship this year.

The transition has been framed by Cadillac as a planned evolution, moving the team beyond its initial launch phase towards a more intensive focus on performance. Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss extended gratitude to Lowdon, acknowledging his leadership and critical role in laying the team’s foundation. Towriss expressed appreciation for Lowdon's commitment and wished him well in future endeavours.

Budkowski arrives at Cadillac with a substantial background in Formula 1. His recent high-profile position was as executive director for the Alpine F1 team, which he joined when it was known as Renault. He took charge following the departure of Cyril Abiteboul and remained in the role for twelve months.

Prior to his executive role, Budkowski built a comprehensive career working with several top teams. He started as an aerodynamicist with Prost in 2001, followed by a five-year tenure at Ferrari during their dominant championship-winning era. Later, he moved to McLaren in 2007, where he rose through the ranks from a senior aerodynamicist to lead the aerodynamics division. Before his return to team operations with Renault in 2018, he also spent time leading Formula 1’s technical department.

Cadillac has yet to secure a point in its debut F1 season, though they came close at the Monaco Grand Prix. A penalty relegated driver Sergio Perez from a provisional tenth-place finish to eleventh, denying the team its first championship point. This backdrop highlights the challenge and opportunity facing Budkowski as he takes the helm.

Addressing his new role, Budkowski indicated that the team is entering a period of immense opportunity. He outlined a clear objective: to maximize car development while adhering to cost cap regulations and to sharpen every team function for competitive racing. His stated aim is to build an elite organization driven by a winning mindset, resilient against setbacks, meticulously focused on detail and process, and capable of precise execution on race days.

Budkowski’s immediate focus will be on optimizing team alignment, tools, and information flow to enable rapid decision-making, with the ultimate goal of consistent car performance improvements. He emphasized the privilege of leading Cadillac's on-track efforts, which will officially begin at the Zandvoort Grand Prix next weekend.

This leadership reshuffle signals Cadillac’s intent to accelerate its competitive trajectory as it navigates the demanding landscape of Formula 1. The extensive experience Budkowski brings is expected to be crucial in refining the team’s operational structure and performance capabilities.

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