Budkowski replaces Lowdon as Cadillac F1 team principal

Cadillac F1 has appointed Marcin Budkowski as its new team principal.

Budkowski replaces Graeme Lowdon in what the team describes as “a planned leadership transition as the organization evolves from its initial build phase into the next stage of racing performance.”

The 49-year-old Pole/Frenchman brings more than two decades of F1 experience spanning engineering, regulatory and executive leadership. Past stops include senior roles with Prost, Ferrari, McLaren, the FIA and Renault/Alpine, where he helped steer the team’s transition into the Alpine era as in the role of executive director and board member.

"Marcin's appointment marks another important step in the continued evolution of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team," said Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss. "From the beginning, our goal has not been simply to participate in Formula 1, but to build a next-generation team capable of competing at the very front. As we enter this new era for the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, Marcin brings exceptional F1 experience, technical expertise and strategic leadership that will strengthen our organization and help us develop the winning mindset, tools and processes required for long-term success.”

“We’re grateful to Graeme Lowdon for his leadership and the role he played in forming the Cadillac Formula 1 Team from the ground up. His contributions helped establish a strong foundation in our build-up phase, and we thank him for his commitment and wish him well.”

Budkowski said that his focus will be on building upon Cadillac’s foundation to help the fledgling team achieve its ambitions of fighting at the front of the field.

“This is a phase of huge opportunity for the team, one that will be defined by a clear objective: maximizing car development within the cost cap and turning every team function on to compete,” he said. “That means building an elite organization with a winning mindset – driven, relentless in the face of setbacks, obsessed with detail and process, and able to execute with precision on race day.

“My focus will be on aligning our people, tools and information flow so the right decisions are made quickly, and the performance of the car improves every time we go racing. It is a privilege to be leading Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s on-track efforts, starting in Zandvoort next weekend.”

Cadillac will return from the summer break with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez sitting 21st and 22nd respectively in the points. The team is still chasing its first Formula 1 point, with Bottas’ 13th in China representing its best finish to date.