Charles Leclerc’s Former Engineer to Return With Cadillac Amid Mick Schumacher Links

Former Ferrari Formula 1 engineer Xavi Marcos is set to return to the F1 paddock after taking on a senior role within Cadillac’s upcoming entry into the sport.



The Spaniard previously worked as Charles Leclerc’s race engineer at Ferrari before being replaced by Bryan Bozzi from the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix onwards.



Following that change, Marcos chose to leave the Maranello-based team and accept an offer from Cadillac.



Over the past year, he has been heavily involved in Cadillac’s World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship programmes.



His work on those projects led to his appointment as technical director for Cadillac’s LMDh programme, a role that was formally announced last year.



However, Marcos’ focus now appears to be shifting back toward Formula 1.



Reports indicate that he has been appointed as Cadillac’s chief race engineer ahead of the team’s highly anticipated 2026 F1 debut.



Cadillac will join the grid as the sport’s 11th team, marking a significant expansion of the championship.



The American manufacturer will initially compete using Ferrari power units before transitioning to a full General Motors power unit partnership from 2028.



Marcos would sit at the top of the race engineering structure, overseeing individual driver engineers once the team becomes operational.



Cadillac have already confirmed that Carlo Pasetti and John Howard will serve as race engineers for Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez respectively in 2025.



Cadillac’s Driver Experience Seen as Early Strength



Cadillac’s proposed driver pairing of Bottas and Perez brings a combined total of 16 grand prix victories to the new outfit.



That level of experience is rare for an expansion team and is viewed as a major advantage heading into the early years of the project.



Both drivers have competed at the front of the grid and bring valuable technical feedback capabilities.



The team had previously been linked with less experienced options, including Mick Schumacher, Zhou Guanyu and Colton Herta.



Securing Bottas and Perez is therefore seen as a statement of intent despite realistic expectations for initial performance.



Long-Term Vision Shapes Cadillac’s Approach



Team principal Graeme Lowdon has been open about the challenges Cadillac will face during its early seasons.



Lowdon has stated that the team expects to be running near the back of the field in 2026.



According to him, 2028 may represent the earliest point at which Cadillac’s true potential can be judged, coinciding with the introduction of General Motors power units.



This long-term outlook has influenced Cadillac’s broader strategy.



The decision to sign young American driver Colton Herta as a reserve driver underlines the team’s future-focused planning.



With Marcos now leading the race engineering operation, Cadillac are continuing to build the foundations for sustained competitiveness rather than short-term results.
The post Charles Leclerc’s Former Engineer to Return With Cadillac Amid Mick Schumacher Links appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk .