Cadillac, Budkowski new team principal
Surprise move by Cadillac, which changes team principal mid-season: Marcin Budkowski will take the place of Graeme Lowdon starting from the Dutch GP, the first after the summer break.
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Budkowski joins the American team with over two decades of experience in F1: his resume includes high-level experiences at Prost, Ferrari (where he oversaw aerodynamic development from 2004 to 2007), McLaren, FIA and Alpine. It was precisely in the French team that he held his last role in an F1 team: for a year and a half (from 2021 to mid-2022) he was executive director. Budkowski was already in the paddock in Hungary, but his presence had not been linked to a return to F1: at this point it is very likely that the change at the pit wall was decided before the Hungaroring.
Words from Towriss
“Marcin’s appointment marks another important step in Cadillac’s ongoing evolution,” said CEO Dan Towriss. “From the beginning, our goal has not simply been to participate in F1, but to build a next-generation team capable of competing at the highest levels. Marcin brings us exceptional F1 experience, technical skills, and strategic leadership that will strengthen our organization and help us develop the winning mindset, tools, and processes necessary for long-term success.”
Therefore, Lowdon was essentially fired after only six months on track and is no longer part of the team: “We are grateful to Graeme for his leadership and the role he played in building the team from scratch. His contribution helped lay solid foundations in our startup phase, we thank him for his commitment and wish him all the best.”
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Words from Budkowski
“Cadillac boasts extraordinary foundations and ambitions,” added Budkowski. “This is a phase full of huge opportunities for the team, which will be characterized by a clear goal: to maximize car development within the budget cap limits and deploy all functions to compete. This means building an elite organization with a winning mindset: determined, resilient in the face of difficulties, attentive to details and processes, and able to act precisely on race day. My goal will be to align our personnel, tools, and information flow so that the right decisions are made quickly and the car’s performance improves every time we hit the track. It is a privilege to lead the team’s on-track efforts starting from Zandvoort.”
In the Constructors’ Championship, Cadillac is the only team with zero points. They came close at the most glamorous event of the year with Sergio Perez, but two mistakes by the Mexican cost penalties that gave the point to Fernando Alonso. A weekend that perhaps also changed Lowdon’s fate.
