Cadillac has made another major statement of intent in Formula 1 by strengthening its technical operation with three experienced engineers from some of the sport’s most established teams. The American outfit has confirmed the appointments of Craig Skinner, Eric Blandin and Tim Lean, with the trio bringing extensive experience from Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin. The moves come during Cadillac’s debut season and underline the team’s determination to build the technical foundations required to become increasingly competitive in the years ahead.
Skinner represents perhaps the biggest coup of the three appointments. After spending two decades with Red Bull, he rose through the organisation to become chief designer and was part of the technical structure behind the team’s championship-winning run between 2021 and 2024. At Cadillac, he will take on the role of Chief Development Engineer, working across vehicle concept, design, analysis and delivery while reporting to Chief Technical Officer Nick Chester. His experience of developing cars at a championship-winning operation could prove particularly valuable as Cadillac continues to establish its own technical identity.
Blandin will meanwhile take charge of Cadillac’s aerodynamics department. His career has included senior aerodynamic roles at Mercedes and Aston Martin, including a spell as Mercedes’ Chief Aerodynamicist before becoming Aston Martin’s Deputy Technical Director. His experience extends across different technical environments and championship-winning operations, giving Cadillac another senior figure with knowledge of how leading teams approach aerodynamic development. Tim Lean completes the trio and will become Chief Engineer for Aerodynamics Modelling and Simulation, bringing experience from McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari to another critical area of Cadillac’s car-development programme.
The appointments also fit into a wider restructuring of Cadillac’s F1 operation. Earlier in August, the team replaced Graeme Lowdon with experienced former Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski as Team Principal, signalling a move from simply establishing the new operation toward building a more mature competitive structure. Cadillac entered Formula 1 in 2026 as the sport’s 11th team, with Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas behind the wheel, while Ferrari is supplying its power unit and gearbox during its initial campaign.
All three engineers are expected to join Cadillac over the coming months, meaning their influence is likely to be felt more significantly in the team’s future development rather than immediately on the current car. Team Principal Budkowski described the appointments as an important step in strengthening Cadillac’s technical integration and long-term development. For a new F1 project, attracting personnel with championship-winning experience from established rivals could help accelerate the learning process, but the ultimate impact will depend on how effectively Cadillac turns that expertise into car performance. The latest hires therefore represent another important piece of the team’s long-term attempt to establish itself in Formula 1.
