Graeme Lowdon, the team principal of the Cadillac Formula 1 team, has shared insights about the livery planned for their debut car in 2026, highlighting the balance between aesthetics and performance. As Cadillac prepares to enter the Formula 1 grid, the design’s visual impact combined with technical considerations will play a critical role.
Lowdon spoke on the High Performance Podcast, explaining how the choice of colors affects the car beyond its looks, emphasizing that the livery must symbolize something meaningful for the team and its fans.
Technical Considerations Behind Color Selection
The weight difference between paint colors is a surprisingly significant factor in Formula 1 design. Lowdon explained that white cars are marginally heavier than black cars, which can affect performance at the highest level of racing.
White cars are heavier than black cars – by a few grams. And a few grams makes a difference in Formula 1,
Lowdon noted.
So my guess is that there’ll be a lot of dark-coloured cars in 2026 if the engineers win the day, and light-coloured cars if the graphic design team wins the day. Because, you know, they tend to pop a bit more on TV.
He further described the distinction between painting and wrapping the vehicle. The materials used to create lighter colors require thicker vinyl, adding extra weight compared to darker hues applied to black carbon.
Cars are either painted or wrapped. So they use paint, or they’re wrapped using some kind of vinyl. And if you wrap black carbon, you need heavier vinyl if it’s a light colour than if it’s a dark colour.
—Graeme Lowdon, Cadillac F1 team principal
The difference in weight even extends to the type of finish, where gloss and matte paints present varying mass impacts, something teams like Red Bull have leveraged by adopting a lighter matte base.
Impact of Heat and Durability on Color Choice
While the color of the car’s bodywork might affect heat dissipation to some degree, Lowdon clarified that the car’s cooling systems primarily handle power unit temperatures. However, lighter colors tend to fade or discolour with exposure to high heat, which is a critical consideration with the new power unit arriving in 2026.
And then the heat rejection from the cars differs from year to year,
Lowdon said.
We’ve got a new power unit coming in ’26, and so it’s difficult to have light colours where there’s a lot of heat going on because it tends to discolour. Some colours go well with a transition to dark, others don’t. So there’s just a huge science behind it all.
Design Philosophy: Appealing to the Next Generation
For Lowdon, the visual impression the car makes on fans, especially younger ones, is crucial. He aims for the 2026 car to pass what he calls the “12-year-old fan test,” meaning it should be exciting enough for young fans to want posters of it on their walls and foster long-term loyalty.
I want to have in my mind, when we roll those cars out for the first time on a grid, we want fans to look at them and go, ‘That looks great,’
Lowdon said.
I’ve always thought whatever we do with a car, it should pass the 12-year-old boy or girl fan test. You know, that’s the car they want to put a poster of on their bedroom wall, and that’s the team they want to follow.
If it doesn’t pass the poster test, then, you know, nobody wants to run around with a car that looks rubbish, do they? You want the best-looking car on the grid.
Combining Performance with Iconic and Aggressive Design
Lowdon also emphasized that while speed is vital, the visual identity of the Cadillac car is just as important. He rejects the idea of having a “fast but forgettable” car. Given Cadillac’s heritage of bold and iconic design, the livery must be aggressive and exciting to capture the emotion that draws fans to Formula 1.
His goal is for the design to evoke strong feelings and inspire fans to imagine themselves in the driver’s seat, creating a deep connection between the audience and the team.
So yeah, if it’s fast but forgettable, we’ve missed the point.
Looking Ahead: Cadillac’s Entry into Formula 1
Supported by General Motors, Cadillac’s arrival marks a significant step in Formula 1’s evolving landscape. While the driver lineup for the 2026 season has yet to be announced, the team’s approach to their first car’s livery reveals a commitment to blending technical precision with fan engagement, setting a foundation to build their legacy on the grid.
The carefully considered livery not only reflects strategic decisions about weight, heat, and durability but also outlines the team‘s desire to create a distinctive presence that resonates with a new generation of racing enthusiasts.
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