Marcin Budkowski appointed Cadillac F1 team principal, succeeding Graeme Lowdon

In London on Wednesday, Formula One newcomers Cadillac replaced their team principal, appointing Marcin Budkowski to succeed Graeme Lowdon with immediate effect. The team presented the change as a planned leadership transition after half a season.

Budkowski is a 49-year-old Polish-French engineer who has held roles at several Formula One organisations, including Ferrari and McLaren, and at the sport’s governing body, the FIA. Graeme Lowdon, 61, had led the General Motors-backed Cadillac operation from 2024 through its expansion into Formula One. Lowdon oversaw recruitment and the project that saw Cadillac’s cars take their places on the starting grid in Melbourne last March.

Cadillac remain, as the team noted, the only outfit yet to score a point in 11 rounds this season, although the statement also pointed to on-track progress relative to some competitors. The team has run experienced drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas during the campaign.

In a statement Cadillac said: “His appointment follows a planned leadership transition as the organization evolves from its ⁠initial build phase into the next stage of racing performance,” Cadillac said in a statement, thanking Lowdon for his contribution. The club framed the move as part of a shift from the initial build-up to sustained racing development.

Dan Towriss, the Cadillac F1 CEO who also runs team owners TWG Motorsports, praised the new appointee and set out the organisation’s expectations. He said Budkowski “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.”

Budkowski’s career in the sport began with Prost in 2001 and included a spell at Ferrari before a move to McLaren in 2007. He joined the FIA in 2014 as technical and sporting coordinator and subsequently worked for Renault F1 from 2017-22, latterly serving as Alpine’s executive director.

“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,” he said. The next race is the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort on August 23 after the sport’s European summer break.