Graeme Lowdon’s sudden exit during the summer break exposes performance struggles at Cadillac. Discover why CEO Dan Towriss replaced the racing veteran with former Ferrari engineer Marcin Budkowski.
Formula 1 is currently on hiatus for the summer break, a period usually relatively quiet as drivers and team members are required to rest. However, Cadillac has shaken things up in recent hours with a major change involving one of its key figures.
The American team announced on Wednesday, August 12, that Graeme Lowdon has stepped down as Cadillac team principal after just half the season. In an official statement on the team's social media account, Cadillac announced that Marcin Budkowski has taken over the position for the remainder of the 2026 season.
This move has shocked both fans and supporters of the team, as Lowdon had been a central figure even before Cadillac's F1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix. He has now been replaced by someone with more experience in the top tier of motorsport and with a background at other teams, including Ferrari.
The reality is that Cadillac had a start that seemed to surprise more than one of the teams, who didn't expect to see a team created just months in advance competing wheel-to-wheel with the teams at the back of the grid; however, that impression faded in recent weeks due to the numerous problems encountered at the end of the last few races.
What's the truth behind Graeme Lowdon's departure from Cadillac?
Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac, explained in more detail the reasons behind Graeme Lowdon's departure during the F1 summer break. It was a surprising move, since this period is usually reserved for when teams need to make significant changes to their management or driver lineups.
Towriss clarified that it wasn't a mutual termination of the contract, making it clear that the decision rested entirely with the team. According to statements published by Motorsport.com, the executive explained that the change was driven by Cadillac's plan for the next phase of its F1 career and the different capabilities of the available components.
Furthermore, Cadillac also explained why the change came so quickly and without any prior rumors. This is unusual in F1, as most changes are typically surrounded by rumors that reveal the moves days, weeks, or even months before they are officially announced.
Dan Towriss justified the move by saying that rumors could have a destabilizing effect on a team struggling to survive in the F1 World Championship and trying to prove it has the capabilities to compete at the highest level of motorsport. Finally, Towriss made it clear that the decision was based entirely on a pure question of performance on and off the track.
