Cadillac has no intention of settling for a mid-grid existence in Formula 1, insists team boss Graeme Lowdon.
The 59-year-old, famed for founding Manor—which later morphed into the Virgin and Marussia F1 project before crashing out amid financial ruin—has returned to the sport.
He has been appointed to lead Cadillac F1 - initially the Andretti project which has evolved into a fully GM-backed venture, now now officially locked in for the 2026 grid.
Speaking to AFP in Shanghai, Lowdon declared that Cadillac's aspirations are "truly unlimited."
Yet he's quick to recognise the steep challenge of a sport that's unforgiving, expecting to be confronted once again "with the reality of a difficult sport".
Still, Lowdon is already managing a workforce of roughly 300—matching the size of Haas' operation.
"Those 300 people signed up before we even had our official entry on the grid," Lowdon told the French news agency. "Now we need to keep building ourselves up. Right now it's all about recruiting."
While some might argue that crafting the car for the overhauled 2026 rules should take precedence—and progress is being made there—Lowdon stresses the need for more talent.
"We're going to build our first ever Formula 1 Cadillac and we're going to compete with people who have built, in some cases, hundreds of cars," he admitted. "How can we do that?
"We can't be arrogant and say we have a data and experience base, because we don't. That's why we're focusing on people first."
For its maiden season, Cadillac is deliberately avoiding "specific ambitions."
"Our challenge is so much bigger than that of all our other competitors, but eventually our ambitions are truly limitless," he explained. "And they have to be. But we also have to be realistic. So, no targets."
Alongside car development and hiring staff, Lowdon faces the task of selecting drivers for the two seats. He appears unfazed by this, noting that "a lot" of candidates are already in contention.
"I don't want to name names, we just want to recruit very, very good people. We will recruit drivers on merit. And we simply want the best," he said.
Andretti and Cadillac leaders have long hinted that at least one seat will go to an American driver.
"As I said, we will hire on merit," Lowdon insists. "And there is nothing stopping American pilots from being really good, and there are some very good ones out there."
