Graeme Lowdon was instrumental in getting Cadillac onto the Formula 1 grid during its crucial developmental phase, according to former broadcaster Will Buxton. Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast alongside David Coulthard and Naomi Schiff, Buxton addressed Lowdon's abrupt removal as team principal following just 11 races of the team's debut campaign.
Cadillac announced during the summer break that Lowdon would step down and be replaced by former Renault executive director and FIA technical chief Marcin Budkowski. Buxton believes Lowdon was brought in specifically for his expertise in team-building from his days with Manor and Marussia.
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Subscribe"I think it's safe to say Cadillac wouldn't be on the grid without Graeme, without his experience and without the work that he did to build that team up to put the people in place and get them on the grid," Buxton explained during the podcast discussion.
While acknowledging Lowdon's foundational contributions, Buxton also noted that the former team principal had previously admitted to having a narrow window of expertise regarding long-term scaling, which may have influenced the team's leadership shift.
Marcin Budkowski Steps In As Cadillac Targets 2027 Growth
Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss confirmed that the exit was not mutual and that Lowdon was informed on the morning of the announcement, signaling a ruthless pivot toward the future.
"It's not that Graeme was doing a bad job, but they needed somebody now to take this on and move it to the next stage," Buxton added, emphasizing that early leadership changes are vital to shape car development for upcoming seasons.
Marcin Budkowski takes over the reins at Cadillac as the American outfit looks beyond its debut campaign and prepares for the future. The leadership transition comes at a critical juncture for the new constructor as they navigate the competitive landscape of Formula 1.
The timing of the change allows the incoming leadership team to exert a greater influence over car development cycles for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Industry analysts note that strategic shifts in F1 require substantial lead times to yield performance gains on the track.