The Cadillac System 1 outfit has confirmed that Graeme Lowdon’s dismissal as its crew principal “wasn’t a mutual choice” – including he was solely advised on the morning.
Cadillac made a shock announcement on Wednesday that Lowdon had been replaced by ex-Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski for the remainder of the 2026 marketing campaign and past.
It got here throughout the summer season shutdown of the American squad’s debut season in F1, the place it’s backside of the championship and with out a level after 11 rounds.
However that was largely anticipated for Cadillac’s first yr and it was initially assumed that Lowdon would proceed with the crew for the long-term after serving to to construct it from the ground-up.
Nevertheless CEO Dan Towriss confirmed “it was my choice” throughout a media roundtable alongside Budkowski, who has been a tv pundit since leaving Alpine in January 2022.
“It wasn’t a mutual choice,” confirmed Towriss. “The method began a couple of months in the past: actually eager about what the following part for Cadillac System 1 seems like, what’s the suitable timing, how would that look, after which the capabilities of the varied people on the market.
Graeme Lowdon, Group Principal, Cadillac F1 Group.
Picture by: Lars Baron / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
“We have been delighted within the dialog with Marcin and the way that relationship advanced. So Graeme and I spoke this morning, so I feel it’s a very current dialog from that perspective.
“However there isn’t any straightforward method to make this transition inside System 1. Are you able to think about the press if Marcin strolled by means of for a tour of the manufacturing facility or having these conversations?
“It turns into destabilising at that time and so it is necessary to respect the view of the management that is in place at the moment.
“So it does compress the decision-making, the timeline and the way this stuff come collectively. It makes it really feel extra abrupt than it could be in any other case.
“Nevertheless it’s the character of System 1 and it is the best way it needed to occur.”
Contemplating the abrupt nature of the sacking, it led to questions on social media as to ‘why now’ and it was subsequently put to Towriss if Lowdon was merely there in an “interim capability”.
Dan Towriss
Picture by: Cadillac Communications
The American responded: “I do not assume it is truthful to say that he was right here in an interim capability. It truly is a operate of efficiency and the way issues advanced.
“These are actually going to be discussions which can be going to be stored between Graeme and myself, as to the place these aligned and the place they did not align.
“What I can say is, what was completed, I’ve immense respect for. This is not an interim interval for me and for Graeme, it is nearly a four-year interval of planning and constructing and doing all of the items.
“So it was the suitable time primarily based on the circumstances that exist each inside the sport and inside the crew and so that is the suitable time and the suitable place to make that step going ahead.
“Anytime we’re making a transition in System 1, as you guys know, it’s totally troublesome. It is very troublesome to maintain it quiet, that there weren’t a myriad of leaks round that.
“However right here we’re. We’re once more very grateful to Graeme for what he delivered to the crew and really enthusiastic about Marcin’s management and what the longer term seems like for Cadillac.”
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