Cadillac Formula 1 Team has strengthened its technical leadership with three senior appointments drawn from rival Formula 1 organisations.
Craig Skinner will join as Chief Development Engineer, Eric Blandin as Head of Aerodynamics and Tim Lean as Chief Engineer – Aerodynamics Modelling and Simulation. Cadillac says all three are due to begin work over the next few months.
Development and aerodynamics roles
Skinner will report to Chief Technical Officer Nick Chester. Cadillac says he brings 20 years of experience from Red Bull Racing, where he most recently worked as Chief Designer. His new role gives him responsibility within the development organisation, although the team has not published a detailed department chart or individual start date.
Blandin will also report to Chester. He arrives from Aston Martin, where he served as Deputy Technical Director, after more than 11 years with Mercedes that included the position of Chief Aerodynamicist. As Head of Aerodynamics, he will lead one of the functions most directly affected by the current Formula 1 regulations and the continuing development cycle.
Lean will report to Blandin and focus on aerodynamic modelling and simulation. Cadillac says his background includes more than ten years at McLaren, six years at Red Bull and more than five years as a Principal Aerodynamicist at Ferrari.
The reporting structure places Blandin between the chief technical officer and the modelling and simulation function, while Skinner leads a separate development brief. Cadillac has not specified headcounts, facilities, budgets or the precise boundaries between the three roles.
Recruitment for a developing organisation
Cadillac is building its Formula 1 operation across Silverstone and the United States. Adding experienced leaders from Red Bull, Aston Martin, Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari gives the team knowledge of several established design and development systems.
That experience is relevant, but it does not by itself establish a performance gain. The appointments are future-facing: the team says the three executives will join in the coming months, and no public technical programme, upgrade timetable or competitive target was attached to the announcement.
The material business update is the recruitment of three senior specialists and the definition of their reporting lines. Cadillac did not disclose contract lengths, compensation, gardening-leave arrangements or exact commencement dates. Those details remain unconfirmed.