Exclusive: Cadillac detail strategy to become the ‘very best team’ in F1

Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon has detailed the American Formula 1 outfit's strategy to become the "very best team" in the sport and attract the very best talent.

It has been 11 rounds of growth, learning and development for Cadillac in its maiden campaign, with the team more than holding its head high.

As is often the case when an entirely new F1 operation joins the grid, many expected Cadillac to be rooted to the back of the field. That has not been the case.

With Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez driving the outfit forward, Cadillac has spent much of the season on the cusp of Q2 appearances and ahead of Aston Martin, a team boasting some of Formula 1's biggest names both in and out of the cockpit.

Had it not been for multiple penalties for Perez in Monaco, the team could have scored its first point on merit. Nevertheless, important progress is being made, even during difficult periods. What is clear is that Cadillac plans to be in Formula 1 for the long term, not the short term, and has its sights set on reaching the top.

The team is already attracting major figures from across the paddock, one key arrival being Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan, as reported by RacingNews365. Lowdon believes creating a strong working environment is key to attracting further star names, who will want to be part of Cadillac's journey.

Asked if Cadillac has already become a team capable of attracting top talent, Lowdon told RacingNews365 in an exclusive interview: "I hope so. I hope that we've demonstrated that it's a team with bold ambition. We do want to constantly improve. I think that's attractive to good people.

"The challenge is there for everyone to see. That's clear, and I think there are a lot of people who find that very appealing as well, to be part of something fresh and take on a big challenge.

"Hopefully we've demonstrated that the way we want to operate creates a good environment as well. It's fundamentally a racing team, and I think the best teams in the world are built around that ethos of a high-performance environment. That's certainly what we're trying to build.

"It's not easy, but if we get it right, then I think it really will be attractive. Internally, one of our managers said, and I agree with it, that we want to make this the team that everybody wants to join, everyone's proud to be a part of, and nobody wants to leave. 

"If we can achieve that, then we'll attract the very best people, build the very best team, and hopefully the results will follow."

Cost cap challenge

Naturally, unlimited funds are not at Cadillac's disposal with the cost cap in place, meaning it will be a long road before the team reaches parity with the other midfield outfits.

Lowdon, however, is an experienced figure when it comes to extracting the maximum from a cost-capped environment, having never had the opportunity to operate with an unlimited budget himself.

Discussing the cost cap, Lowdon said: "Yeah, it's funny. I've spent my entire career in cost-capped environments, either through regulation or simply through funding, and 99% of the world's motorsport is cost-capped in that same way, one way or another.

"Very few people have had the opportunity in the past to have unlimited, you know, on the face of it, unlimited resources. 

"And the one thing that's very clear from the cap is that, if you do have unlimited resources, it's a very different game - a totally different game."