Cadillac replace founding boss Graeme Lowdon with Marcin Budkowski

Cadillac removed founding team principal Graeme Lowdon and appointed Marcin Budkowski to lead its Formula 1 operation on 12 August 2026, the team announced. The change comes amid a difficult opening to Cadillac's debut F1 season.

Lowdon, 61, set up the American entry over a three-year period and had overseen the team’s arrival in Formula 1, while Cadillac have struggled with repeated technical problems in 2026 and remain without a point after the first 11 races. The current driver line-up of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are both former race winners. The team operates primarily from seven buildings on an industrial park opposite Silverstone, with additional facilities at General Motors' technical centre in Michigan and motorsport headquarters in North Carolina.

Cadillac chief executive officer Dan Towriss said the decision to remove Lowdon was his and rooted in the future direction of the organisation rather than being "directly related to the repeated reliability problems, especially with overheating brakes, that have afflicted Cadillac in recent races." Towriss said he and Lowdon had discussed a future transition and that "The time for that change came sooner than was expected." He added: "Marcin brings exceptional F1 experience, technical expertise and strategic leadership that will strengthen our organisation and help us develop the winning mindset, tools and processes required for long-term success."

Lowdon had previously been a senior figure at the Manor/Marussia team that raced from 2009 to 2016, and he described creating Cadillac as akin to "putting a man on the moon" during the protracted entry process that required significant preparatory work before the team had an official place in F1. Towriss said Lowdon was informed of the decision on Wednesday morning.

Budkowski, 49, spent 2017-22 with Renault's F1 programme through its Renault and Alpine phases and led the FIA's technical department from 2014-17; his career also includes roles with McLaren, Ferrari and Prost. At Cadillac he will rejoin former colleagues, including chief technical officer Nick Chester, who was previously at Renault.

Marcin Budkowski said: "This is a phase of huge opportunity for the team, one that will be defined by a clear objective: maximising car development within the cost cap and turning every team function on to compete." He continued: "That means building an elite organisation 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." He added: "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."

Budkowski takes over as Cadillac team principal as the organisation continues its multi-site operation and plans to establish a new headquarters in Fishers, Indiana in due course while retaining a base in the UK.