Why Cadillac have decided to switch up their livery

Cadillac Team Principal Graham Lowdon has explained the reasons behind the team’s decision to switch up their livery.

As Formula 1’s newest team, there was plenty of interest surrounding the US outfit’s debut look as they embark on their maiden campaign in motorsport’s top echelon. That first design didn’t disappoint, with the team opting for a split black-and-white livery that turned heads as it was unveiled during the Super Bowl.

However, after running special livery designs in Miami – which integrated the Stars and Stripes motif – and at Silverstone – which marked America’s 250th birthday – Cadillac have been running a different look at the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, with the split design no longer present on the car.

Asked in the Friday press conference about why the team had moved away from their original look, Lowdon explained that decision was rooted in how Cadillac wants to do things differently.

“We’ve had quite a few liveries already,” he explained. “We started, as you say, with an asymmetric livery and we launched that during the Super Bowl halftime show, which again we thought was another way of showing that the team wants to approach Formula 1 a little bit differently.

“We said we would try and bring a few different things to Formula 1 and that was a really positive move. We ran that livery for a while. Then we ran a livery in Miami, which was really well received by the fans and we took account of that.

“The livery that we have now is actually quite similar to that Miami livery. And then in the middle of that we introduced the [livery] to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.”

Lowdon went on to explain that their decision to evolve the livery design of the car also showed how the team were looking to push the boundaries.

“As a team if you look at, not just livery changes but if you look at upgrades, I think we’re pretty high up there on the count of upgrades we brought to the car,” he added.

“Again, I think it’s just a reflection of the way we’ve tried to approach the entry into Formula 1. It’s never been about just getting here, it’s always been about trying to get here as a team and do what all the other teams do, which is push the boundaries.

"We’re not just sitting back – that’s upgrading the car or experimenting with the livery. I have to say the fan reaction has been really positive as well.”