Cadillac F1 team managing expectations with limitless ambition
The General Motors brand secured approval in March, after a 764-day entry process, to become the sport's 11th team and are racing against time to be ready.
Testing starts in Barcelona on January 26, with free practice for the 2026 season-opener in Melbourne on March 6.
No drivers are signed yet, despite regular reports of familiar names set to join and the usual suspects in the frame, but the focus is on more fundamental issues.
A recent tour of the team's Silverstone facility revealed a quiet sense of purpose, and the deep pockets behind the operation.
"You will not see this team over-promising in any way," Lowdon told reporters.
"But we do want to convey the fact that the ambitions are really limitless, as they should be."
The team are also backed by TWG Global, whose CEO Mark Walter has an estimated net worth of $12.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Walter's ownership interests include MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers, Premier League soccer side Chelsea and a soon to be acquired majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers NBA basketball franchise.
LONG ROAD
Despite that, there is a long road ahead for a team that will start with Ferrari engines but plan to make their own eventually.
Lowdon, whose U.S.-owned rivals Haas are in their 10th season, said he presents the situation to shareholders with a question: "Can you imagine if you've owned a Formula One team for 10 years and then another team rocks up and beats you? You would be apoplectic.
"You have to assume that any new team coming in is going to be last. Otherwise, what's gone wrong somewhere else? ... We're trying to be as competitive as we possibly can but We're realistic. We know how difficult it is.
"We're happy with our progress, but we just don't know. Other than if we beat someone then someone's going to be angry."
Cadillac reckon on having 600 people by next season, many recruited from rival teams, and say they are already two thirds of the way there and no longer even the smallest outfit.
Although approval came only in March, preparations started long before.
Wind tunnel work has been ongoing since the middle of last year and the first car floor was delivered in January. Roll hoop testing took place in May and a prototype steering wheel was also ready by then.
"We've already issued somewhere in the region of 6,000 drawings. We've made 10,000 components already while we've been kind of quiet," said Lowdon.
"If you just wait until you get the entry and then start doing everything that we've been doing, you time out. It becomes an impossible task."
Cadillac have sites on two continents - a headquarters under construction in Indianapolis, manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Michigan and a design and logistics base at Silverstone.
Lowdon, a previous CEO of the defunct Virgin and Marussia teams, said a different management approach was needed and he had "leaned heavily" on the structure used by the U.S. space programme in the 1960s and 70s.
"We need an engineer here (in Britain) talking to an engineer in Charlotte and another one in Warren, Michigan, or eventually in Fishers (Indiana). So we've looked to have a very, very flat management structure," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
7 hours ago
- CNA
UK targets crypto network helping Russia dodge sanctions
LONDON: The UK on Wednesday (Aug 20) announced a crackdown against eight individuals and entities that have helped Russia circumvent Western sanctions through financial and cryptocurrency networks based in Kyrgyzstan. London announced new sanctions against five organisations and three individuals, including the Kyrgyz-based Capital Bank and its director, Kantemir Chalbayev, "which Russia uses to pay for military goods", the Foreign Office said. The Grinex and Meer cryptocurrency exchanges, which trade the A7A5 "stablecoin" - a supposedly stable digital currency pegged to the rouble - have also been sanctioned. $9.3B MOVED ON CRYPTO EXCHANGE IN 4 MONTHS The token "has moved $9.3bn on a dedicated crypto exchange in just four months and is specifically designed as an attempt to evade western sanctions", the Foreign Office said. "If the Kremlin thinks they can hide their desperate attempts to soften the blow of our sanctions by laundering transactions through dodgy crypto networks - they are sorely mistaken," said Sanctions Minister Stephen Doughty. The announcement follows a similar move last week by the United States, which also targeted Grinex. The action comes "as the UK and international allies redoubled efforts to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine", the ministry said. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday chaired an online meeting of around 30 countries, mainly European, following talks in Washington between US and Ukrainian leaders Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.
CNA
9 hours ago
- CNA
Eze and Guehi to start for Palace in Conference League playoff, says Glasner
LONDON :Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi will both start for Crystal Palace in their UEFA Conference League playoff first leg despite both being heavily linked with moves away from the London club. Forward Eze is wanted by Tottenham Hotspur while fellow England international Guehi has attracted strong interest from Premier League champions Liverpool. Both played in Palace's 0-0 draw at Chelsea in their opening Premier League game and manager Oliver Glasner has no qualms about playing them against Norway's Fredrikstad on Thursday. Eze scored the winner against Manchester City in the FA Cup final to seal Palace's first venture into Europe, albeit in the Conference League rather than the Europa League, and remains a popular figure in the dressing room and with the fans. "The player gives 100 per cent because he is under contract. We don't have to say thank you every day, he is getting a few pounds every week," Glasner told reporters on Wednesday. "Many of you were surprised he and Marc (Guehi) started against Chelsea, you may be surprised they start tomorrow, but they are committed to the team. "They will play a crucial part for as long as they are here they are committed to the team. If they leave, they want to leave as the guys who gave 100 per cent to Crystal Palace." Goalkeeper Dean Henderson also praised the attitude of his two teammates. "Great lads. They are still committed and professional. It showed in the Chelsea game. Both of them were phenomenal in that game," Henderson said. "They will stay committed throughout and be there to help the team. They are part of us at the minute and we will keep enjoying it." Palace's inaugural European campaign has been somewhat overshadowed after UEFA demoted them to the Conference League because of a breach of multi-club ownership rules. An appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was dismissed last week, meaning the decision to promote Nottingham Forest to the Europa League was upheld. Glasner says Palace deserved to be in the Europa League, but that they will embrace Europe's third-tier club tournament. "It is the first time Euro football will be played at Selhurst (Park), this is our reward for winning the FA Cup and we will enjoy it," he said. "Many fans did not expect us to play European football, so this is our approach."
CNA
11 hours ago
- CNA
Isak standoff with Newcastle benefits no one, says Shearer
LONDON :The impasse between Alexander Isak and his Premier League club Newcastle United is harming both parties, according to the club's former striker Alan Shearer. Sweden international Isak was the subject of a 110 million pounds ($148.34 million) bid from Liverpool earlier this month according to media reports, and took to social media on Tuesday to accuse Newcastle of breaking promises. Newcastle responded by saying there had been no commitment to sell the 25-year-old who is under contract until 2028. Isak, who has netted 62 goals in all competitions since arriving for a club record fee in 2022, is training away from the rest of the squad and missed Newcastle's goalless draw with Aston Villa in their Premier League opener on Saturday. Newcastle host Liverpool on Monday. "I just think even releasing this statement last night has thrown fuel onto the fire, which he didn't need to do," Shearer said in an interview with Betfair. "I get that we needed to hear his side of the story and we've heard that now, and I'm not saying I don't believe him or I don't believe Newcastle. I'm just saying it's very, very messy for him and for the football club. It doesn't benefit anyone." Isak was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the 2024-25 season, but chose not to attend the ceremony due to the ongoing issues surrounding his future. In a social media statement on Tuesday he confirmed that he wanted to leave the club. "When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can't continue," Isak wrote on Instagram stories. "Change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself. "I've kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken. This silence has allowed people to perpetuate their own version of events, even though they know it doesn't reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors. "The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. Acting as if these issues have only just emerged is misleading." Newcastle were quick to respond. "We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract ...," the club said. "We want to keep our best players, but we also understand players have their own wishes and we listen to their views. "As explained to Alex and his representatives, we must always take into consideration the best interests of Newcastle United, the team and our supporters in all decisions and we have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired. We do not foresee those conditions being met." Shearer said while there was still the potential for Isak to play again for Newcastle, he had gone about things the wrong way and should question his agent's role. "Everything sort of boils down to: I think he's being given bad advice and the way he's going about it is wrong," Shearer said. "It's not a good look on a player or an agent to not go out and train and not go out and play when you have a contract behind you." ($1 = 0.7416 pounds)
