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Graeme Lowdon: "Healthy rivalry" between GM and Ford good for F1 fans

Cadillac Formula 1 team boss responds to needle between his General Motors backed team and Ford executives

Cadillac Formula 1 team principal Graeme Lowdon says the needle between his team and Red Bull partner Ford "adds another layer of interest" to the series.

Cadillac is making its long-awaited F1 debut this year as an 11th expansion team, initially joining as a Ferrari customer outfit while working on its in-house power units in the US. Meanwhile, Ford is returning to the series as a power unit partner of Red Bull, which is producing its own engines in Milton Keynes with assistance from the Blue Oval.

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The arrival General Motors and Ford in F1 at the same time brings a long-running US rivalry to a new worldwide stage, with Ford having competed against GM brand Chevrolet for decades in NASCAR.

That has already led to executives from both sides trading barbs, with Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss dismissing Ford's contribution to Red Bull as a "a marketing deal with very minimal impact," claims that Ford executive chairman Bill Ford labelled as "patently absurd".

Speaking to Motorsport.com at the recent Autosport Business Exchange in London, Cadillac team boss Lowdon felt the long-running rivalry between GM and Ford would add another layer of interest to 2026's storyline.

When asked if the needle between the two US giants was good for the sport, he replied: "There's been a healthy rivalry between GM and Ford for years and years. They've even made a Hollywood movie about it. So, it's real and it's there.

Watch: Graeme Lowdon exclusive interview at Autosport Business Exchange London

"We're taking a very different approach. GM has ownership in our team, so that's quite a different approach, as far as I know, to how Ford are approaching it. But we have GM DNA throughout the team because they're part owners.

"I'm sure that rivalry will continue. We've seen many times in Formula 1, the fans actually like to see some rivalry, as long as it doesn't go too far, obviously. So, I think it's just another layer of interest in Formula 1."

Cadillac is starting its F1 journey with Finland’s Valtteri Bottas and Mexico's Sergio Perez as its race drivers, but it is investing in a brand-new headquarters in Fishers, Indiana, while also using other GM facilities in Michigan and North Carolina, including the company's driver-in-the-loop simulators in Charlotte.

Cadillac is heavily leaning into its US identity, striking a deal to unveil its definitive 2026 race livery during a half-time ad in next week's Super Bowl. "The Super Bowl thing, I think it's just so cool," Lowdon added.

"We told everyone when we were looking to come in as a new team that we wanted to bring new fans along with us on the journey. There are few things more American than the Super Bowl. It's such a huge event and it brings together sport, music, culture. And it's a way of attracting new fans, I think, as well.

"I don't think any other Formula 1 team has done anything quite like it in the past, so here we're just bringing something new. And if it attracts new fans to the sport that we love, then it's a good thing. But I just think it's so cool as well."