The Race F1 Podcast 250 days to go - but how ready is Cadillac for its F1 debut?
8 snips
Jul 1, 2025 
In this discussion, Sahil Kapur, NBC News Senior Political Reporter with an eye on F1, and Graeme Lowdon, the Cadillac F1 team principal, tackle Cadillac's ambitious debut in 250 days. Kapur reveals the political journey behind their entry while Lowdon expresses confidence in the team's readiness. They ponder potential driver selections and what success looks like for this start-up in the competitive landscape of Formula 1, all while tapping into American enthusiasm for motorsport.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Political Pressure Secured Entry
- The entry process for the Cadillac F1 team was heavily influenced by U.S. political pressures and an antitrust investigation into Liberty Media.
- This external pressure pushed Formula 1 to grant the 11th team entry despite initial resistance from existing teams.
Innovative Team Structure Model
- Cadillac's F1 team logistics involve four main facilities spread across two continents, complicating communication.
- Team principal Graeme Lowdon models their structure on NASA's Apollo program to enable effective peer-to-peer communications and autonomy.
Ambitious American Team Goals
- Cadillac aims higher than existing American team Haas by planning to develop its own power unit by 2029 and building a more competitive operation.
- Managing expectations is key; the team wants respectable participation rather than immediate high performance.