The Cadillac Formula 1 squad has verified that the departure of Graeme Lowdon from his role as team principal was “not a joint agreement,” revealing he was only notified on the morning of the announcement.
On Wednesday, Cadillac surprised many by announcing that former Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski would take over from Lowdon for the remainder of the 2026 season and into the future.
This change transpired during the summer break of the American team’s inaugural F1 campaign, in which they currently sit at the bottom of the standings with zero points after 11 Grands Prix.
However, such struggles were widely anticipated for Cadillac’s maiden year, and many believed Lowdon would remain with the team for the long haul given his pivotal role in constructing it from scratch.
Nevertheless, CEO Dan Towriss clarified “it was my decision” during a press briefing held with Budkowski, who has worked as a TV broadcaster since his departure from Alpine in January 2022.
“This was not a mutual choice,” Towriss stated. “The evaluation began several months back, as we contemplated what the upcoming chapter for Cadillac Formula 1 should entail, finding the correct moment, defining its structure, and evaluating the skills of potential candidates.
Graeme Lowdon, Cadillac F1 Team Principal.
Photo by: Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
“We were highly pleased with our discussions with Marcin and how our connection developed. Consequently, Graeme and I had a talk this morning, meaning it is a very fresh development from that standpoint.
“Yet, executing a leadership change in Formula 1 is never straightforward. Can you picture the media reaction if Marcin had been spotted touring our facilities or holding these talks?
“It creates instability at that stage, which is why it is crucial to honor the authority of the active leadership team at the moment.
“This necessity condenses our choices, the schedule, and how everything aligns. As a result, the transition appears far more sudden than it normally would.
“However, that is simply how Formula 1 operates, and this was the manner in which it had to unfold.”
Due to the suddenness of the dismissal, fans on social media began questioning the timing, prompting journalists to ask Towriss if Lowdon had merely been serving in a temporary role.
Dan Towriss
Photo by: Cadillac Communications
The American executive replied: “I believe it is incorrect to characterize his tenure as temporary. It is genuinely a matter of results and how our trajectory developed.
“The details regarding where our visions aligned and where they diverged will remain strictly confidential between Graeme and myself.
“What I can share is that I hold deep admiration for everything we achieved. For both Graeme and myself, this was not a temporary phase, but rather nearly four years of preparation, construction, and assembling all the components.
“Thus, given the current environment inside both the paddock and our own organization, this represented the ideal moment and setting to take this next step forward.
“As you all understand, managing a handover in Formula 1 is incredibly challenging. Preventing rumors and leaks during such a process is almost impossible.
“Nevertheless, we are where we are. We remain highly appreciative of Graeme’s contributions to the organization and look forward with great enthusiasm to Marcin’s guidance and the chapters ahead for Cadillac.”
