Cadillac CEO reveals Lowdon exit was 'not a mutual decision'
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Updated: 19:19, 12 Aug
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Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss has told GPBlog about the tough decision to part ways with Graeme Lowdon just halfway into their first Formula 1 season.
F1’s newest team announced the departure of their team principal and the naming of Marcin Budkowski as his replacement.
The news comes with Cadillac in the midst of a pointless season, despite earning praise for building the team from scratch.
Lowdon was key in that process, starting with the American constructor four years ago, but he was told of his departure the morning of the announcement.
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Lowdon informed on morning of Cadillac announcement
“So Graeme and I spoke this morning,” Towriss told GPBlog and others. “I think it is a very recent conversation from that perspective.
“But there's no easy way to make this transition within Formula 1. Can you imagine the depressing march through a tour of the factory or having these conversations?
“It becomes destabilising at that point, so it's important to respect the purview of the leadership that's in place at that time.
“It does compress the decision-making, the timeline, and how these things come together. It makes it feel more abrupt than it would be otherwise, but it's the nature of Formula 1, and it's the way it had to happen.”
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Towriss went on to explain that the team principal change was long in the making, and that his former colleague Lowdon was well aware it would take place at some point.
But why now? Well, there are a number of reasons.
Why Cadillac decided now was the time for change
He continued: “We're at this inflexion point with the summer break coming here. Just reminding everyone that we started this team from a standing start.
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“And now, as you look at the development phase, there's a real opportunity here to build something new, which has always been our ambition. And I think the change in leadership here fits that.
“Graeme and I have been building this team for almost four years. And so we always wanted a plan to get it to this point and then really hand the baton off to someone else and create a set of things in motion for this next stage of development.
“And so this is the perfect time to make that change as we go into the second half of our first or inaugural season, as well as we start to think about building on the 27 car.
“I think Graeme and I always talked about how there would be a transition at some point. That this decision was mine. And so I think there's a very narrow window of opportunity when you look at what we're building and the opportunity to build something new and innovative.
“It was the right time, based on the circumstances that exist both within the sport and within the team. And so this is the right time and the right place to make that step going forward.”
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Cadillac had a double retirement last time out in Hungary, making it nine in total for drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.
They’ve also struggled to get close to a season-high of 13th that Bottas recorded in Round 2 in China.
But for Towriss, the recent struggles aren’t to blame.
Towriss denies results prompted leadership change
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“I think that the time for that change came sooner than was expected,” he said. “But I wouldn’t say it’s the performance or the teething issues over the last few weeks.
“It's really about just having a clear vision of what we're building in the future, the rate of progress, and making sure that that matches the ambitions of ownership.
“It was my decision. It wasn't a mutual decision. I think the process really started a few months ago to explore, really thinking about what the next phase for Cadillac Formula 1 looks like, what the right timing is, how that looks, and then the capabilities of the various folks out there.”
Towriss went on to pay tribute to Lowdon, while dismissing the idea that he was an ‘interim’ team principal.
Lowdon exit 'wasn't a mutual decision'
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He finished: “I don't think it's fair to say that he was here in an interim capacity.
“It really is a function of performance and how things evolved. And those are certainly going to be discussions that are gonna be kept between Graeme and me, as to where those aligned and where they didn't align.
“What I can say is, I have immense respect for what was accomplished. And Graeme and I have been through a lot; this isn't an interim period for me and for Graeme. It's almost a four-year period of planning and building and doing all the pieces.”
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