Cadillac F1 Team’s Leadership Change
The newest team in Formula 1 is experiencing some shifts during the typical August break.
Cadillac revealed on Wednesday that Marcin Budkowski will take over as the new team principal. This change is part of what they describe as a “planned leadership change” as the team transitions from its initial setup phase to focusing more on race performance. Budkowski replaces Graham Loudon, who was the first team principal in Cadillac’s history.
“Marcin’s appointment is a crucial step in the ongoing evolution of the Cadillac F1 Team,” commented Cadillac F1 Team CEO Dan Tollis. “From the start, we aimed not just to participate in F1, but to create the next wave of teams that can compete at the highest levels. As we step into this new chapter, Marcin’s extensive F1 background, technical skills, and strategic insight will bolster our organization and guide us toward achieving long-term success.”
Tollis expressed gratitude towards Loudon for his contributions to the new team. “We appreciate Graham Loudon’s leadership and the vital role he played in establishing the Cadillac F1 Team from scratch,” he added. “His efforts laid a solid groundwork during our initial phase. We thank him and wish him the best moving forward.”
Budkowski brings nearly two decades of F1 experience, having started as an aerodynamicist with Prost and climbing to leadership roles across several teams. Most recently, he served as Renault’s Executive Technical Director, overseeing the team’s shift to Alpine and participating on the board during that time.
“The Cadillac F1 Team has an incredible foundation and a strong ambition,” Budkowski stated in a media release. “We are entering a phase filled with opportunities, focused on optimizing car development within budget constraints and channeling our team’s full capabilities into competition. It involves nurturing an elite organization with a winning attitude—being driven, resilient in adversity, detail-oriented, and precise in execution come race day.”
“I aim to streamline the flow of people, tools, and information to ensure decisions are made promptly, enhancing the car’s performance at every race. It’s a privilege to lead the Cadillac F1 Team as we hit the tracks starting next weekend in Zandvoort,” he remarked.
So far, Cadillac has yet to earn points in its debut season, but both Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas have managed to reach the finish line in several races. While Perez crossed the line in 10th place at the Monaco Grand Prix, a post-race penalty prevented him from scoring points, leaving Cadillac without any in F1 so far.
Things are about to heat up again with the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix next weekend.
