Cadillac F1 strengthens technical team with Red Bull, Aston Martin and Ferrari hires

Cadillac F1 has moved to strengthen its technical leadership with the signings of Craig Skinner, Eric Blandin and Tim Lean, a clear signal of intent as the American team prepares for its 2027 sophomore campaign. The trio will join in the coming months, bringing experience from Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari and Aston Martin to a squad that debuted this season with Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.

Why it matters:

Cadillac's debut season has shown respectable pace with its Ferrari-powered MAC-26, but the team needs to accelerate its development curve. Adding proven technical leaders is central to that push, especially after the summer management change that brought Marcin Budkowski in as team principal. These hires could help Cadillac close the gap to the established teams faster.

The details:

• Craig Skinner, former Red Bull chief designer, joins as chief development engineer.
• Eric Blandin, former Aston Martin deputy technical chief, becomes head of aerodynamics.
• Tim Lean, who has worked at McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari, joins as chief engineer for aerodynamics modelling and simulation, reporting to Blandin.
• Budkowski called the appointments “a vital step in the technical evolution of the team,” saying they will create a stronger integrated technical organization.
• Cadillac has also opened a new UK base at Silverstone and is building a new facility in Fishers, Indiana.

Between the lines:

The hires come at a delicate moment for the team's ownership. Majority owner TWG Global and its owner Mark Walter are facing a class-action lawsuit and a wider investigation, but Cadillac is pushing ahead with its technical build-out.

What's next:

With gardening leave periods to respect, Skinner, Blandin and Lean are expected to join in the next few months. Their impact will likely be felt on the 2027 car as Cadillac continues building its infrastructure on both sides of the Atlantic.