Change comes to Cadillac F1

Formula 1’s newest team is making a change during the annual August shutdown.

Cadillac announced on Wednesday that Marcin Budkowski has been appointed the new Team Principal, as part of what the team is calling a “planned leadership transition as the organization evolves from its initial build phase into the next stage of racing performance.” Budkowski replaces Graeme Lowdon, the first Team Principal in Cadillac F1 history.

“Marcin’s appointment marks another important step in the continued evolution of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team,” said Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac F1 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. As we enter this new era for the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, Marcin brings exceptional F1 experience, technical expertise and strategic leadership that will strengthen our organization and help us develop the winning mindset, tools and processes required for long-term success.”

Towriss thanked Lowdon for his contributions to the newest team on the grid.

“We’re grateful to Graeme Lowdon for his leadership and the role he played in forming the Cadillac Formula 1 Team from the ground up,” Towriss added. “His contributions helped establish a strong foundation in our build-up phase, and we thank him for his commitment and wish him well.”

Budkowski spent the better part of two decades on the F1 grid, starting with Prost on the aerodynamic side before working his way through the leadership ranks at several teams. Most recently, he was the Executive Technical Director at Renault, where he helped lead that team’s transition to Alpine. he also served as a board member during that transition.

“Cadillac Formula 1 Team has an extraordinary foundation and ambition,” said Budkowski in a media statement. “This is a phase of huge opportunity for the team, one that will be defined by a clear objective: maximizing car development within the cost cap and turning every team function on to compete. That means building an elite organization 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.

“My focus will be on aligning our people, tools and information flow so the right decisions are made quickly, and the performance of the car improves every time we go racing. It is a privilege to be leading Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s on-track efforts, starting in Zandvoort next weekend.”

Cadillac has yet to score a point during the team’s inaugural season on the grid, but has seen both Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas reach the checkered flag at several races this season. Pérez finished tenth on the track at the Monaco Grand Prix, but a penalty assessed after the race dropped him out of the points, denying Cadillac the team’s first point in F1.

The season roars back to life next weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix.