From assessment to decisions
In the interview published by Formula 1 on 20 October, Marcin Budkowski describes a phase in which he is still listening to Cadillac’s staff while already working on identified priorities. The focus is on how the organisation operates ahead of its next home race in Austin.
The leadership change dates from August
Budkowski’s appointment as Team Principal was announced on 12 August, replacing Graeme Lowdon. It is not a change made this week. The original announcement framed the objective around developing the car within the cost cap and improving the connection between people, tools and information. The latest interview shows how he approaches that responsibility after his opening weeks in the role.
Three roles connecting development and aerodynamics
On 24 September, Cadillac announced three appointments: Craig Skinner as Chief Development Engineer, Eric Blandin as Head of Aerodynamics and Tim Lean as Chief Engineer for Aerodynamics Modelling and Simulation. The announcement said they would join over the following months. That distinction matters: a recruitment announcement describes capability being built without establishing that the entire new structure is already working together.
What to watch on track
APEX’s interpretation: for a young team, organisational progress becomes relevant when it helps select and deliver useful solutions for the car. In Austin, the result needs the context of the weekend’s execution rather than serving as a complete verdict on management. Consistent decisions and the way the team learns from problems will offer a better reference than one finishing position alone.
