Lowdon: Difficult to quantify what success can look like

Lowdon is leading Cadillac into the 2026 Formula One World Championship, when the sport will introduce sweeping regulation changes with new cars, power units, and even tyres.

And while GM and Cadillac have not spared any expense with the aim of succeeding in their F1 foray, they are facing a terse challenge from 10 other teams that have been in the sport for years with the experience that comes with that.

Cadillac have become the 11th F1 team after a long and complicated process that started with Michael Andretti's application, later backed by GM, which the FIA approved and Formula One Management (FOM) and the teams rejected.

To cut a long story short, Andretti ended up being the sacrificial lamb of the political power struggle that took place with GM and Cadillac being given the go-ahead by FOM, which means the new team is in the spotlight and under pressure to deliver decent results.

Asked about the targets Cadillac need to achieve, Lowdon was cautious in his approach; he said: "Anyone watching at home can download all of the regulations off the internet.

"But there lies the problem. You have 11 teams, previously 10 teams, competing on exactly the same set of regulations.

"They can't invent a different kind of car or anything else. The regulations are super tight and so the competition is absolutely insane and intense and we have to recognize that.

"I guess the way I try and communicate to other people is, imagine if you're one of these existing teams; all of them have been doing this for at least 10 years, if not significantly longer.

"If a new team were to come in and immediately be competitive against them, then you'd be pretty upset and pretty angry," he pointed out. "And so, we know it's a huge challenge.

"It's very difficult to quantify what success can look like other than we just have to execute as well as we possibly can and gain respect from the other competitors.

"I think that's always the first target because, if we do that, then we know that we will be doing a good job," Lowdon concluded.

Cadillac, who have signed Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas to lead their maiden F1 season, are on track to release their first ever F1 car in January of 2026 ahead of the three pre-season tests scheduled due to the regulation changes.

(Quotes from Formula 1 Official Website)