Lowdon on Cadilac F1 debut: “Everyone is watching a conscious watch”

Failure is not an option ‘The 1995 film Apollo 13 is the tagline, as NASA’s flight director Jean Kranz depicted by Ed Harris, a malfunction attempts to save three astronauts in a malfunction in the Apollo spacecraft.

The mantra also allows the offices of the newborn Cadilac Formula 1 team as the US -owned team enters an important phase of their Grand Prix Project.

A European base in Silverstone, a feature in Charlotte and counting watches in Indianapolis, countdown watches are ticking the team’s major launch deaddling; Its first F1 car’s first fire-up, Planted End-Off-Zainary Shakedown in Barcelona and Season Opener in Australia.

For the team’s principal Graeme Lowdon, it is not a question whether his team will be ready for its grand debut as the first expansion team of F1 since 2016. “This is not perfect. We have met,” Lowdon told Autosport.

“One of the good things about motor racing is a immovable deadline. No one is going to us the first Grand Prix after a week after a week. Everyone is well aware that the clock is ticking.

“We have a calendar that is shared between all the one -two major dates every month, whether the design is released or a component test. We are on time in time in minutes.”

The team is constantly constructing their European Silverstone base to fulfill those deadlines, Lovdon revealed that the squad is hiring personnel at the rate of “a person a day”. A look at Cadilac’s LinkedIn page shows that many positions are still for tombs.

Cadilac’s major technical leadership has been for some time, former Renault Engineer Nick Chester has been established as Technical Director, East Williams Man John Tomlinson, head of Aerodynamics and John Mcquelium, who worked with Lowdon in Manor as the chief designer. Cadilac can also bend at the experience of Pat Symonds as an engineering consultant. Other major fares include former Haas Race Team Manager Peter Krola.

“We have a weekly meeting of all the employees and I remember that there were three of us, now there are hundreds,” Lowdon said. “I think we are probably joining just one day in a day; there are really good people, as well as those who are running in the past even before. It’s really a great adventure for me that I can be able to run again with some of these people.”

With its European hub in Silverstone, the brand-new US headquarters of Andratei Global in Cadilac Indiana will be based on the facility of a general motors in Charlotte, North Carolina. It will also continue to use Toyota’s wind tunnel in colon.

“We are building factories in the UK and are huge new headquarters in Indianapolis. I really get excited for people to see what is going to happen, because I think it is a game changer for Formula 1 fans in America.”

“This is always a challenge to manage on many sites, but we see it as an opportunity.

“Then we have found an operation in silverstone, which is the house of Formula 1. In the context of motorcyst energy, no one has any doubt that when you focus the main focus in any of those cities.”

There is no stranger to form an F1 team from Lovdon scratch, but the circumstances are very different, when he brought the jagir into the series in 2010, which was for a seven-year campaign under individual guys, until the outfit ended at the end of 2016. By that time, Lovon and co-founder John Booths were no longer involved in the project.

“Well, we’ve got more time this time,” Lovon said comparing two start-ups. “I think we had seven months last time, and it was a challenge. I now look back to it and it’s just incredible.

“As history has shown, goalposts run beyond all beliefs. This time it is quite stable, but the game is more complex now. Certainly, the lesson I have learned last time changes more things, the more things remain the same. The more things remain the same. The basic principles of building a team are just the same.”

Cadilac’s F1’s effort switched the gear, once it was finally approved to join the 11th team in the Las Vegas Grand Prix Weekend of last November. This can eventually contact personnel and partners with knowledge on the grid in 2026 rather than a promise and a dream.

“Overriding spirit was somewhat relief,” Lowdon said. “I never doubted that we would get admission, otherwise there were enough things to overcome and walk. The problem was how long it was going to take.

“From an individual point of view, to convey all those people who included their reactions and watching, was a real joyous experience. I think we were more than 300 people at that point, almost Has size. Each one made a commitment to join a team, in which there was no entry. We could not even call ourselves a formula 1 team.

Cadilac will take Ferrari The engine for the first two sessions before introducing its hybrid power units, which is why GM’s juice O’Lense, who are in charge of OEM’s F1 engine program, attended the engine meeting in Bahrain.

Driver on merit on nationality

One of the next important decisions for Cadilac is choosing its drivers. Talking to Autosport earlier this year, Team advisor Mario Andrati said that the intention was still an American driver in one of his cars, in which Andreti confirmed the team’s indication. Colon horta There is still a key candidate who is pending an FIA superlisance.

Harta has since taken away himself from the constant F1 noise that has surrounded her as Andreti’s effort broke the ground for the first time, although she lives in the frame. Other free agents are included in the market Mercedes reserve Vultiry botas And former red bull driver Sergio PerezBoth have more than a decade of F1 experience that will be valuable for a new team.

When the team asked if the team is still ready to sign an American driver from the beginning, it is not necessary that it is not necessary that it could be from one year. “We will choose drivers on merit. Having a driver on merit does not mean that you cannot even have an American passport. We have got a lot to choose,” he said.

“But also, you cannot judge an F1 team to what they are doing this year or next year. To stay here to the team. I think fans would love to see an American driver in an American team. There is nothing that is stopping from happening, but we are just to move forward and choose a team, because some very experienced drivers are available.

“We were not able to participate in the final round of driver talks, so we are out of the sink with many other teams. But there are some advantages with it. Very good drivers are available in minutes.

“As and when we keep the driver lineup together, whatever it is, it will be a strong.”