Cadillac replaces team principal in shock mid-season shake-up

Cadillac has replaced team principal Graeme Lowdon just halfway through its debut Formula 1 season, handing the reins to experienced Polish engineer Marcin Budkowski. The move comes as the Ferrari-powered rookie squad continues to struggle with persistent technical issues and a car that has remained anchored to the back of the grid.

Why it matters:

Lowdon had been with the project since its inception, playing a key role in securing the team's entry rights before being appointed principal in December 2024. His sudden departure signals that General Motors and TWG Motorsports are unwilling to accept the current pace of progress, particularly with the MAC-26 chassis showing no signs of closing the gap to the midfield. Bringing in Budkowski represents a clear change in philosophy, as the highly respected engineer offers two decades of technical and operational expertise across multiple top teams.

The details:

• Lowdon's exit: The 61-year-old Briton previously served as CEO of Virgin/Marussia and later worked as a driver manager before joining the Cadillac project from the ground up. Despite running veterans Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, the team has faced continuous technical setbacks and failed to produce meaningful progress since the season began.
• Budkowski's resume: The 49-year-old began his F1 career in 2001 at Prost and spent time at Ferrari during the Michael Schumacher era before moving to McLaren. He later served as the FIA's F1 technical and sporting coordinator, then joined Renault as executive technical director, overseeing operations through the transition to Alpine until his departure in early 2022.
• Ownership's intent: The team explicitly stated that Budkowski's appointment reflects the owners' desire to "shift gears" and speed up the rookie team's development trajectory.

What's next:

Budkowski's immediate challenge will be to stabilize the struggling operation and extract more performance from the MAC-26 in the remaining races of 2026. His extensive technical background suggests Cadillac may prioritize restructuring its engineering approach rather than simply waiting for regulatory changes, though turning around a debut-season backmarker is never a quick fix. The mid-season timing of the change leaves little room for a full reset this year, but the move positions the team to build a stronger foundation for its second season on the grid.