Cadillac bolsters F1 team with Red Bull, Mercedes signings

Cadillac has bolstered its F1 technical team with the signings of Craig Skinner, Eric Blandin and Tim Lean, adding championship-winning pedigree from Red Bull and Mercedes during its debut season.

Why it matters:

Cadillac has already changed team principal this year, with Marcin Budkowski replacing Graeme Lowdon during the summer break. These hires show the team is building for the long term, not just making up the numbers. Bringing in people who have designed title-winning cars gives Cadillac a stronger technical foundation.

The details:

• Craig Skinner joins as chief development engineer. He was Red Bull's chief designer from 2022 until earlier this year and played a key role in the RB19, which won 21 of 22 races in 2023.
• Eric Blandin becomes head of aerodynamics. He has worked at Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and Aston Martin, and was Mercedes' chief aerodynamicist from 2017 through the dominant W11 era.
• Tim Lean takes on chief engineer, aerodynamics modeling and simulation. He was Ferrari's head of aerodynamic innovation until 2022, with earlier stints at McLaren and Red Bull.

Budkowski called the signings a "vital step in the technical evolution of the team," adding that the new arrivals bring race and championship-winning experience.

What's next:

Cadillac now has a stronger technical core to build around for the rest of its debut season and beyond. The challenge is turning that experience into on-track progress.