Graeme Lowdon believes the "ambitions are limitless" for Cadillac in F1

17:16, 25 Nov

byOlly Darcy

Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon believes that the "ambitions are limitless", setting sky-high sights as preparations continue for their F1 debut.

"We want to move forward and develop in a constructive way. I know every team will say that, but that is the reality. We are set up with that bold ambition in mind."

- Graeme Lowdon

The American team will join the grid for the 2026 season after manufacturer General Motors had its bid approved by Formula 1, and will become a power unit manufacturer by 2029.

With the opening race of the 2026 season at the Australian Grand Prix just a matter of months away, there is both anticipation and trepidation from Lowdon.

“It's impossible at the moment to predict anything championship-wise next year. I think absolutely nobody knows where they're going to be next year,” the former Marussia boss said in the paddock at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

valtteri-bottas-and-sergio-perez-announced-as-cadillac-drivers.jpg

Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will be behind the wheel for Cadillac in 2026 - Photo: Cadillac

"If they do, then they're making it up, because none of us know where we're going to be! We've got some obvious targets for next year. We have to have everything ready, all that kind of thing. But that's really secondary to measuring all the things that we're in control of.

"How do we execute those? That's the key thing for next year. How do we operate? And the envelope of performance that we have defined for us next year, how much will we extract from that?"

“With the backing that we have, both financially and in terms of technology and vision and everything else, we've said before that our ambitions are limitless. And they should be."

Plenty of work behind the scenes at Cadillac

Lowdon previously made comments about the project and the upcoming Grand Prix weekend in Melbourne, stating that "time is the enemy in a project like this".

However, an impressive TPC test from Sergio Perez highlighted that work behind the scenes at Cadillac is paying off, and there may not be too many things holding them back.

“We'll be in a position to operate at the cost cap. So, irrelevant of where we start next year, we want to move forward and develop in a constructive way. I know every team will say that, but that is the reality. We are set up with that bold ambition in mind," continued Lowdon.

Graeme Lowdon - Photo: RacePictures

“I know how difficult Formula 1 is. You can't just turn up and beat teams that have been doing it for years and years. These teams are extremely good at what they do. And we have a huge respect for them.

“But we're hiring good people, and if we operate well, then we'll build a good team as well. That adds to the competition. It's very clear that the way we're structured, we’re not just here to tag along. We're here to really try and build a successful Formula 1 team. And that's my objective.”

There has been plenty of activity from Cadillac as they build an impressive team, with the next rumoured move seeing the recently departed Head of Aerodynamics at the FIA, Jason Somerville, move to the American team.

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