Cadillac names Budkowski team principal in F1 shakeup
NXTbets Pro | Published On: August 12, 2026
Budkowski takes charge
Cadillac named Marcin Budkowski its new team principal, a move that puts a longtime Formula 1 figure in charge as the team pushes into its next stage. Budkowski replaces Graeme Lowdon, and Cadillac said the switch is part of a planned leadership transition as the outfit moves beyond its build phase. The change lands during Cadillac’s first Formula 1 season, giving the organization a new voice at the top while the program is still taking shape on track and across its operations. It also gives Cadillac a leader with direct experience from inside the paddock, a background that fits a team trying to tighten its structure after its initial launch and early race work. Budkowski said his job will center on getting more from the car within the cost cap and improving how the team makes decisions and carries out those decisions. That brief, practical focus matches the demands of a new entry in Formula 1, where every upgrade, every operational call and every detail in the garage can affect progress. Cadillac did not frame the move as a break from its current direction. It presented the change as a shift in responsibility inside a larger plan, one that keeps the team moving forward while handing more of the day-to-day competitive burden to a fresh principal.
Lowdon built team
Lowdon’s departure closes the opening chapter of Cadillac’s Formula 1 project. He led the team from its formation and oversaw the preparations for its debut, giving Cadillac a steady hand through the long stretch before the first race weekend. He also managed the first 11 rounds of the team’s maiden campaign, which means he handled the early competitive reality after the launch phase ended and the season began to unfold. That work gave Cadillac a foundation to stand on before the leadership transition arrived. Dan Towriss, Cadillac’s chief executive, thanked Lowdon for helping establish the team from the ground up, a nod to the range of tasks that come with building a Formula 1 operation from nothing. The job stretches far beyond race results. It includes assembling people, shaping systems, setting priorities and making sure the team can function under the pressure of a global championship. Lowdon carried those responsibilities through the creation of the program and into the first part of the season. His exit now marks a handoff rather than a reset. Cadillac has chosen to move the team’s leadership as its own structure matures, and Lowdon’s role in getting the organization to this point gives the transition clear context. The team now shifts from formation to consolidation, with a different principal guiding the next stretch of development.
Budkowski background
Budkowski arrives with a résumé built around both regulation and competition. He joined Alpine from the FIA in 2018, then left the team in 2022. Since then, he has worked as a television pundit in Poland, keeping close to the sport while away from a formal team role. That mix of technical governance, team experience and media work gives him a broad view of Formula 1, from the rules that shape development to the pressures that follow every race weekend. Cadillac said his appointment is part of a planned transition as the team moves beyond the build phase, and Budkowski’s first priorities line up with that stage of growth. He spoke about maximizing car development within the cost cap, a central challenge for any team trying to climb in Formula 1 without wasting resources. He also pointed to better decision-making and sharper execution, two areas that often decide whether a team makes steady gains or gives them back through missed calls and operational mistakes. Budkowski said his work in the role will start with the race at Zandvoort next weekend, giving him a quick introduction to the daily demands of the job. For Cadillac, the hire adds a principal with enough technical background to help steer development and enough paddock experience to understand what the team needs in real time.
