In a move that’s set to shake up the Formula 1 world, a key figure from Charles Leclerc’s past has just landed a high-stakes role with the upcoming Cadillac F1 team. But here’s where it gets intriguing: Xavier Marcos Padros, the mastermind behind Leclerc’s race strategy at Ferrari from 2019 to 2024, is now stepping into the spotlight as the chief race engineer for Cadillac’s ambitious F1 debut in 2026. This transition comes hot on the heels of PlanetF1.com’s exclusive reveal about the race engineers for Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, leaving fans buzzing about what’s next for the grid.
Marcos Padros’ journey to this pivotal role is nothing short of fascinating. After honing his skills at HRT and Williams—where he worked closely with former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa—he returned to Formula 1 in 2018, teaming up with Leclerc at Ferrari. Together, they forged a partnership that delivered five Grand Prix victories, proving their ability to thrive under pressure. But what’s often overlooked is the controversial shift that saw Ferrari reassign Marcos Padros to “other important company programmes” after the 2024 Miami Grand Prix, making way for Bryan Bozzi to take the reins with Leclerc. And this is the part most people miss: Was this move a strategic reshuffle, or a missed opportunity for Ferrari?
Leclerc and Bozzi quickly silenced doubters, securing a heart-stopping win in Monaco just two races later, followed by victories in Monza and Austin. Yet, Ferrari’s winless 2025 campaign left fans wondering what could have been. Meanwhile, Marcos Padros quietly resurfaced in January as the technical director of Cadillac’s LMDh sportscar project, working across the World Endurance Championship and IMSA series. Now, his return to F1 with Cadillac feels like a full-circle moment—but with a twist.
Cadillac’s F1 team has confirmed to PlanetF1.com that Marcos Padros is already embedded in their operations, even spotted at Imola last month during Perez’s test run in an all-black 2023 Ferrari F1 car. This marked the team’s first real-world test session, a critical step after months of simulated race weekends in 2025. But here’s the kicker: Is Cadillac’s bold move to hire Marcos Padros a game-changer, or a risky gamble? With former Aston Martin engineer Carlo Pasetti and ex-Alpine veteran John Howard also joining the team as race engineers for Perez and Bottas, respectively, the stage is set for a high-octane debut season.
John Howard, in particular, brings nearly 15 years of experience from Alpine, including his role as Pierre Gasly’s race engineer. But as Cadillac gears up for 2026, one question lingers: Can this star-studded team deliver on its promise, or will the pressure of a debut season prove too much? We’ll have to wait and see—but one thing’s for sure: the F1 paddock will never be the same.
What’s your take? Is Cadillac’s lineup a recipe for success, or are they setting themselves up for a fall? Let us know in the comments below! And if you’re hungry for more insider F1 news, don’t forget to add PlanetF1.com as a preferred source on Google or join our WhatsApp broadcast channel for the latest updates straight from the paddock. Ready to dive deeper? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive features and behind-the-scenes stories from the heart of Formula 1. The race is on—are you in?
