Charles Leclerc’s former Ferrari track engineer Xavier Marcos joins rival team

The Cadillac F1 team is gearing up for its official debut in the sport starting with the 2026 season. To ensure they hit the ground running, the American outfit is currently finalizing its organizational chart with several high-profile signings. Having already confirmed the race engineers for Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, a new report from Planet F1 suggests they have now appointed their Head of Track Engineering—a figure who was a familiar and often discussed face at Ferrari last year.

The man in question is Xavier Marcos, who served as Charles Leclerc’s race engineer from 2018 until mid-2024. The Spaniard, who frequently faced scrutiny and criticism from fans for his communication style with the Monegasque driver, moved away from the Ferrari pit wall after the first half of last season. Having initially transitioned into the World Endurance Championship (WEC) as Technical Director for Cadillac Racing, he has now been promoted by the same American brand into the pinnacle of motorsport, marking a significant new chapter in his professional career.

A central role for Cadillac’s 2026 campaign

The role of Head of Track Engineering is a cornerstone in the organizational structure of any Formula 1 team. It involves much more than simply coordinating the work of the engineers who speak directly to the drivers during a grand prix weekend. This position is responsible for defining methodologies, establishing work processes, and ensuring technical cohesion. In this regard, the years of experience Marcos gained at a top-tier team like Ferrari represent a massive asset for Cadillac as they aim to build a solid foundation from their very first moment in the Paddock.

With this latest acquisition, Cadillac continues to follow a very deliberate philosophy. They are consistently relying on figures with experience at the highest levels of the sport—ranging from drivers who have tasted success with Mercedes and Red Bull to a technical staff with deep roots in Maranello. The objective is clear: to accelerate the learning process and bridge the inevitable performance gap that any new entity faces when entering the complex world of Formula 1.

Ultimately, by recruiting Xavier Marcos, Cadillac is leveraging veteran Ferrari expertise to lead their trackside operations, aiming to transform his years of top-flight experience into a competitive edge for their 2026 debut. This strategic hire highlights the American team’s commitment to building a seasoned technical department capable of navigating the intense pressures of the F1 calendar.

Dec 22, 2025Luca Marini