Cadillac have turned to the a relatively obscure but experienced technical and sporting operator, appointing Marcin Budkowski as their new Formula 1 Team Principal.
The 49-year-old Pole will take charge from his predecessor Graeme Lowdon as of next weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, marking his full-time return to an F1 paddock after several years working primarily in television with Viaplay.
Budkowski brings experience spanning teams, governing bodies, aerodynamics and senior management. His Formula 1 career began with Prost Grand Prix in 2001 before he joined Ferrari, where he spent six seasons.
He moved to McLaren in 2007 and worked both trackside and at the team’s Woking headquarters. Budkowski was part of McLaren when Lewis Hamilton won the 2008 Drivers’ Championship and eventually became Head of Aerodynamics in 2012.
Budkowski later joined the FIA, working across its technical and sporting departments while also serving as Deputy Race Director. His time at the governing body included involvement in the introduction of the halo safety device, which became mandatory in Formula 1 in 2018.
Alpine and FIA tenures were relatively brief
Renault subsequently brought him back to the team side of the sport. Budkowski became a senior figure within the operation through its transition into Alpine, working alongside Laurent Rossi and Davide Brivio.
That period included Esteban Ocon’s victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix and Alpine finishing fifth in the Constructors’ Championship. Budkowski left Alpine early in 2022 after four years with the organisation, with Rossi taking overall control of the team.
His departure preceded a turbulent period of leadership changes at Alpine involving figures including Otmar Szafnauer, Bruno Famin, Oliver Oakes, Pat Fry and Alan Permane. Now Cadillac have handed Budkowski the biggest Formula 1 role of his career.
With experience covering championship-winning teams, the FIA and senior management, Cadillac’s new Team Principal arrives with an unusually broad understanding of how Formula 1 operates from both sides of the pit wall.
Marcin Budkowski: Career timeline
We are pleased to welcome Marcin Budkowski as Cadillac Formula 1® Team Principal for the remainder of the 2026 season and beyond.
Read the full Team Statement via the link in our bio. pic.twitter.com/PZc7SRvkrL
— Cadillac Formula 1 Team (@Cadillac_F1) August 12, 2026 1977 – Born in Warsaw, Poland.Early 1980s – Moved to Paris with his family aged five and grew up in France.1999 – Graduated as an engineer from École Polytechnique in Paris. Later specialised in Aeronautics and Aerodynamics at ISAE-Supaero and Imperial College London.2001 – Entered Formula 1 as an aerodynamicist with Prost Grand Prix.2002 – Joined Ferrari during the team’s dominant Michael Schumacher era.2002-2007 – Worked at Ferrari as the team collected multiple World Championships under Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Stefano Domenicali.2007 – Left Ferrari and joined McLaren, working across factory and trackside aerodynamic roles.2008 – Part of McLaren during Lewis Hamilton’s first Formula 1 World Championship-winning season.2012 – Promoted to McLaren’s Head of Aerodynamics, leading a department of around 100 people.2014 – Left McLaren after seven years and joined the FIA, becoming F1 Race Director Charlie Whiting’s right-hand man.2017 – Became Head of the FIA Formula 1 Technical Department alongside his wider responsibilities.After 2017 – Returned to the team side with Renault as Executive Director, overseeing around 750 staff at Enstone and the chassis and race operations.2021 – Effectively led Alpine following Renault’s rebranding, representing the team at the F1 Commission and joining its board of directors.2022 – Left Alpine after four years with the organisation.Post-2022 – Became CEO of the proposed World Cup of Motorsports, worked as a consultant, managed young drivers and appeared as an F1 expert for Viaplay.