'No specific goal' for the inaugural F1 season - Cadillac

      "Three hundred individuals registered even before we had our official entry."

      Cadillac is determined not to settle for being a mid-tier team in Formula 1, according to team leader Graeme Lowdon. The 59-year-old is well-known in F1 as the founder of Manor, which experienced a tumultuous journey through the identities of Virgin and Marussia, ultimately leading to disgrace and financial failure. However, he has returned to the paddock now that the original Andretti initiative has transformed into the fully GM-supported Cadillac F1, which has finally received confirmation for a team entry on the 2026 grid.

      In an interview with AFP news agency in Shanghai, Lowdon expressed that Cadillac's aspirations are "truly limitless." Nevertheless, he recognizes that he will once again face the "reality of a challenging sport." Currently, Lowdon is managing a team of about 300 employees — roughly equivalent to the Haas team. "Those 300 individuals signed up before we had our official grid entry," Lowdon informed the French news agency. "Now we need to continue our development. Right now, it's all about recruitment."

      Some may believe that prioritizing the development of the new car for the 2026 regulations should come first, and significant progress is being made on this front. However, Lowdon indicated that Cadillac requires additional expertise. "We’re going to create our first-ever Formula 1 Cadillac and compete against teams that have constructed, in some cases, hundreds of cars," he acknowledged. "How can we achieve this?

      "We can't be presumptuous and claim that we have a wealth of data and experience because we don’t. That’s why our primary focus is on acquiring talent." Thus, for at least the inaugural season, Cadillac is not establishing "specific ambitions." He explained, "Our challenge is substantially greater than that of our competitors, but ultimately, our aspirations are genuinely limitless. And they must be. However, we also need to remain realistic. So, no specific targets."

      In addition to car development and recruitment, Lowdon is responsible for filling the two driver positions. He appears unconcerned about this aspect, as there are "many" drivers already identified. "I don’t want to mention anyone specifically; we simply want to recruit very, very talented individuals. We will choose drivers based on merit and aim for the best," he stated.

      And from the outset, officials from Andretti and Cadillac have noted that at least one driver seat will be occupied by an American. "As I've mentioned, we will hire based on merit," Lowdon affirmed. "And there’s nothing preventing American drivers from excelling; there are indeed some very talented ones."

      Cadillac F1 Team - General Motors