Polish engineer Marcin Budkowski has been appointed as the new head of the Cadillac Formula 1 team, making a surprise return to the motorsport series after a four-year absence.
The 49-year-old takes charge of the American squad during its debut season in Formula 1. Cadillac leadership selected Budkowski to provide a strong development impulse, placing him in the most prominent role of his career.
Budkowski told the official Formula 1 website that the upcoming phase represents a major opportunity for the team, defined by a clear goal to maximize car development within the accepted budget and prepare every element for competition. He said his task is to streamline the flow of people, tools and information so that good decisions can be made as quickly as possible, aiming to improve car performance from race to race.
Budkowski returns to team management after leaving Alpine in 2022, where he served as executive director. He subsequently worked as a television analyst. His extensive career in Formula 1 includes years working for the International Automobile Federation, the sport's governing body known as the FIA, as well as engineering and management roles at Prost, Ferrari and McLaren.
Earlier this week, Budkowski visited the main headquarters of Cadillac in Warren, Michigan, in the United States. He is scheduled to hold a series of meetings at the Zandvoort circuit during the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix weekend, where the main race takes place on Sunday, August 23 at 3:00 pm local time.
Factory ambitions and engine regulations
Speaking to racingnews365.com, Budkowski said he has experience working with a full factory team and expects Cadillac to transition into one in a few years. He noted that the shift will happen when the timing is right and when there is greater clarity regarding future engine regulations, which he described as a current challenge for the sport.
Budkowski added that he hopes to hold discussions with top Formula 1 authorities in Zandvoort to catch up on regulatory planning, having been absent from high-level technical meetings for several years, and to better understand the future direction of the sport.
Engine partnership with Ferrari
Cadillac currently relies on power units supplied by Italian manufacturer Scuderia Ferrari for its entry into Formula 1. Budkowski said the team is satisfied with the partnership, describing the Ferrari engine as competitive and stating that the collaboration is working well. He confirmed that the current structure suits the team and that Cadillac is pleased to have Ferrari as a technical partner.
Driver lineup and championship standings
Cadillac is competing in its inaugural season with an experienced driver lineup consisting of Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas and Mexican driver Sergio Perez. Neither driver has scored points in the driver standings so far this season. The championship is currently led by Italian driver Kimi Antonelli of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.
Growing Polish presence in Formula 1
Budkowski's appointment marks another step in Poland's expanding footprint in Formula 1 following the era of driver Robert Kubica, who was the first Polish driver to compete in the championship. Next year, Polish sports apparel brand 4F will join the sponsor lineup for the Racing Bulls team. Igor Klaja, the founder of 4F, recently stated in an interview that he has not ruled out building a dedicated motor racing circuit in Poland.
