Cadillac’s Team Principal, Graeme Lowdon, has lauded the ‘robust team cohesion’ exhibited by the newly formed squad after their initial outings at the Barcelona Shakedown. The atmosphere within the team ahead of the pre-season testing in Bahrain has been described as ‘very optimistic.’
The event held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was the first chance for all teams to extensively test their new cars. For Cadillac, this represented a significant milestone as they prepare for their inaugural season in Formula 1, which they celebrated by incorporating the names of the founding members from both the United States and the UK into a unique livery design.
After the first laps of the 2026 challenger, Lowdon expressed his satisfaction with how the entire team has unified. ‘We possess a truly strong team spirit,’ the British team principal remarked. ‘Everyone is energized and ready to tackle this challenge. I feel immense pride for myself and my teammates in featuring the names of everyone on our livery for this shakedown.’
Lowdon further conveyed the emotions experienced during Cadillac’s debut day at the shakedown, stating, ‘This is a significant milestone, and it’s perfectly acceptable for us to take a moment to appreciate the emotions involved. However, the predominant sentiment is that it feels like business as usual for a legitimate Formula 1 team, and we are diving into the same tasks as our competitors.’
He continued to express his gratitude for the talented individuals that make up his team, stating, ‘I have immense respect for everyone involved. I consider myself fortunate to collaborate with such talented people, whether at the track, back in Silverstone, Indianapolis, or Charlotte. It feels fantastic to sense that we are truly progressing.’
As the shakedown wrapped up, Lowdon shared his thoughts on the team’s overall sentiment prior to their next testing opportunity in Bahrain from February 11-13, followed by another test from February 18-20. ‘The prevailing feeling is one of excitement and encouragement; I’m very pleased with how things have unfolded,’ he noted. ‘We have diligently addressed the usual issues that accompany a brand-new car, but it’s important to remember that this is only our fourth day operating our Formula 1 car.’
‘Each day, we are becoming more efficient, and our procedures are functioning smoothly. The collaboration among team members has been exceptional, which makes me very happy. We still have much work ahead, just like every team up and down the pit lane. However, I believe we will head to Bahrain with a distinctly positive outlook.’
