Cadillac F1 names Marcin Budkowski team principal, replacing Graeme Lowdon

Cadillac Formula 1 has appointed Marcin Budkowski as team principal, replacing Graeme Lowdon as the American outfit reshapes its leadership. Budkowski will lead the squad from next weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, bringing 25 years of experience to a team still chasing its first points.

Why it matters:

The move signals Cadillac's urgency to accelerate development after a difficult start. Budkowski's blend of technical expertise and senior leadership is exactly what the backmarker needs as it finalizes permanent infrastructure in Indiana.

The details:

• Extensive resume: The 49-year-old started as an aerodynamicist at Prost, Ferrari and McLaren before heading the FIA's Formula 1 technical department. He later served as executive director at Renault and briefly shared team principal duties with Davide Brivio in 2021.
• Immediate challenge: He inherits a squad last in the constructors' standings without a point, with Zandvoort offering an immediate test.
• Leadership change: Graeme Lowdon, hired in December 2024 to build the team from scratch, departs after establishing its foundational structure.
• The mission: CEO Dan Towriss wants a "next-generation team" competing at the front, tasking Budkowski with instilling a winning mindset and maximizing development within the cost cap.

What's next:

Early progress will likely come through operational gains rather than instant results. Budkowski's immediate priority is aligning personnel and processes while the squad waits for its Indiana base to become fully operational.