Marcin Budkowski has stepped into the hot seat as Cadillac's new team principal, taking over from Graeme Lowdon in a surprise shake-up. The Polish engineer, who's spent years working at some of F1's biggest outfits including Ferrari, McLaren, and Alpine, is diving straight into the deep end. This marks his first team boss role in the sport after spending the last couple of years as a TV pundit.

More F1 news: Dutch GP 2026: Everything You Need to Know About Zandvoort's Final F1 Weekend

Budkowski's got plenty on his plate as he settles in, but one of his immediate priorities is understanding the long-term relationship with Ferrari. The Scuderia are currently supplying Cadillac's power units, and Budkowski's genuinely happy with how that partnership is working. The tricky bit, though, is figuring out how long this arrangement needs to last. Cadillac's got big dreams about becoming a manufacturer in its own right down the line, so there's some serious planning needed.

More F1 news: Ralf Schumacher: Oscar Piastri Has Lost His Shine in 2026

The new team principal reckons he'll have some important chats this weekend at Zandvoort to get up to speed on where F1's heading. He's been out of the loop while doing punditry, so catching up with the sport's hierarchy about future engine regulations is crucial. Budkowski's optimistic about everything though, genuinely praising Ferrari's contribution and making it clear the partnership is on solid ground for now. He's got the experience from working with both manufacturer teams and customer outfits to navigate this phase of Cadillac's F1 journey, so expect some smart moves as he gets his feet under the table.

More F1 news: Ferrari and McLaren Ready Fresh Upgrades to Challenge Mercedes at Zandvoort

The challenge will be balancing Cadillac's immediate competitiveness with Ferrari's engines against their ambitious plans to eventually run their own power unit. With engine regulations still uncertain, there's plenty to discuss with the sport's decision makers. Budkowski seems confident he can thread that needle, thanks to his background working across the paddock's biggest teams.

Shop the collection: McLaren merch  •  Scuderia Ferrari merch  •  Cadillac merch