With just twelve months until Cadillac F1 makes its highly anticipated debut as Formula 1’s eleventh team in 2026, team principal Graeme Lowdon is radiating quiet confidence.
Speaking to Formula1.com shortly after the General Motors-supported outfit was given a formal green light by the FIA and F1, Lowdon asserted that preparations for the Silverstone-based outfit are firmly on schedule, with a clear focus on competitiveness.
Cadillac F1 is therefore shifting gears as it prepares for a new era in the sport.
The American team’s journey to this point has been a marathon of resilience. Cadillac’s F1 aspirations first gained traction with the FIA’s approval in October 2023, only to hit a wall in January 2024 when Formula One Management rejected an initial bid led by Andretti Global.
Undeterred, the team pressed on, establishing a headquarters in Silverstone and recruiting heavyweights like former F1 CTO Pat Symonds to spearhead development for the 2026 regulations.
The tide turned late in 2024 when Michael Andretti stepped down as Andretti Global CEO, paving the way for TWG Group’s Dan Towriss to take charge.
©SeanBullDesign
This leadership shift unlocked the door to the grid, with formal approval now secured. For Lowdon, the focus has shifted from gaining entry to hitting the ground running.
“In terms of being ready to race, everything is on schedule,” he assured.
Building a Competitive Edge
Lowdon isn’t content with Cadillac merely showing up – he’s aiming for the podium.
“We don’t just want to turn up and race, we want to be as competitive as we possibly can be,” he declared.
“From that point of view, for sure we would have loved to have had more time and more people because the more of that you have, the more performance you can build.
“But we recognised that the process itself requires a huge amount of energy and effort.”
Despite these constraints, the team has made significant strides, focusing on the nuts and bolts of their 2026 challenger.
“In terms of timeline for production, we’re happy with where that stands,” Lowdon added. “We’ve been using a lot of time up to now doing a lot of testing and validation of individual components, things like testing of noses, squeeze testing of chassis elements and the like.”
This behind-the-scenes grind has laid a solid foundation, and with formal approval now in hand, the team’s access to F1’s shared data pool marks a game-changer.
“There’s an awful lot of work that has gone on in the background. There’s still a lot of work to do,” Lowdon noted.
“We’re in a significantly better position now that we’re now a fully-fledged F1 team. We will have access to all the data and information that all the other teams have.”
Ready to Race – and Win
With a robust team already in place, Lowdon is optimistic about Cadillac’s trajectory.
“Now we can really push to come up with the most competitive car that we can,” he said. “The team is already very sizeable, we’re very comfortable about the position we’re in, in terms of being ready to go racing in 2026.”
Lowdon’s confidence stems from a blend of strategic hires – like Symonds, whose decades of F1 expertise are shaping the car – and a relentless work ethic.
As the 2026 season looms, bringing with it a radical new ruleset for chassis and power units, Cadillac is poised to capitalize on the reset.
Initially running Ferrari power units before transitioning to its own GM-built engines in 2028, the team is building not just for survival but for success.
The Driver Puzzle
While the car takes shape, the question of who will drive it remains unanswered – and Lowdon is in no hurry to spill the beans.
Amid speculation linking IndyCar standout Colton Herta and other talents to the seats, he’s keeping his cards close to his chest.
“There’s some very talented drivers still out there,” said the Brit. “We hadn’t been able to be in the driver market until the entry was confirmed. Now it has, we can move forward with that.
“In terms of timing, we’re not putting any timeline on driver announcements or anything like that but for sure, there will be in time.
“For sure we’re going to hire drivers based on merit. But as such, we see no reason why we won’t have American drivers in time.
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“There’s nothing preventing a driver being selected on merit and being American. I think that would be something that a lot of fans would really want to see as well.
“At the end of the day, the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is based in the US. We have an operation in the UK, but it’s headquartered in the US and it is a US team as well.
“I’m fairly sure that hiring on merit and having a US driver are entirely compatible objectives for the team.”
This measured approach reflects Cadillac’s broader strategy: prioritize the car, the team, and the process, and the rest will follow. For now, the focus remains on engineering a machine capable of turning heads in its debut season.
Read also: Cadillac F1 secures its spot on the 2026 grid
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