Cadillac replaces Graeme Lowdon with Marcin Budkowski as team principal

Cadillac has replaced team principal Graeme Lowdon with former Renault and Alpine executive Marcin Budkowski, marking a leadership shift in the American manufacturer's inaugural Formula 1 season. The change takes effect ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, with senior figures describing it as a planned transition beyond the team's initial foundation phase.

Why it matters:

For an all-new constructor finding its footing, experienced leadership is critical. Lowdon helped build Cadillac from the ground up, but Budkowski brings two decades of frontline F1 experience across engineering and team management. His arrival signals a clear intent to accelerate the team's evolution from startup to serious competitor.

The details:

• Lowdon's departure is understood to be amicable, with the team thanking him for establishing its operational foundation.
• Budkowski most recently served as executive director during Renault's transition to Alpine, giving him direct experience in managing a manufacturer's works team identity.
• His career spans senior roles at Prost, Ferrari, McLaren, and the FIA, covering race engineering through regulatory affairs.
• Cadillac emphasized the move reflects a deliberate shift from the initial build-up phase to on-track development and operational growth.

What's next:

Budkowski takes charge at Zandvoort with a mandate to instill what he calls a "winning mindset" across the organization. He has prioritized maximizing car development within the cost cap, streamlining decisions, and delivering consistent performance gains each weekend. With the 2026 midfield battle intensifying, how quickly Budkowski converts his experience into results will likely define Cadillac's debut trajectory.