How The Cadillac F1 Team Is Winning Over a New Generation of Fans

Building a brand from scratch is rare. Building one inside one of the world's most iconic sports—with no existing marketing playbook—is even rarer.

In this conversation, Cadillac Formula 1 CMO Ahmed Iqbal (Meddy) shares what it takes to launch a new Formula 1 team while earning credibility with lifelong fans and attracting an entirely new generation. From designing an audience-first content strategy to rethinking accessibility in a sport known for exclusivity, this episode explores the leadership decisions behind building a modern brand in real time. Every decision comes back to a central question: How do you create a community that people genuinely want to be part of?

What You’ll Learn

  • Why building a brand from scratch requires defining purpose before campaigns or content.
  • How Cadillac Formula 1 balances serving devoted F1 fans while attracting an emerging audience.
  • The strategic thinking behind choosing accessibility over exclusivity for marquee brand moments.
  • How audience data—not assumptions—is shaping content priorities across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X.
  • What it takes to build a high-velocity content engine capable of producing hundreds of assets during a race weekend.
  • Why experimentation matters—but only after operational foundations are firmly in place.
  • How marketing leaders can build community by inviting customers into the journey instead of simply promoting the destination.
  • Lessons in leading through ambiguity, rapid growth, and constant prioritization as a first-time CMO.

Key Takeaways

  • Start with the "why" before the marketing plan.
    Without legacy brand guidelines or historical campaigns, Ahmed's first priority wasn't creative execution—it was defining what Cadillac Formula 1 stands for. Brand strategy, audience strategy, content, design, and organizational structure all flowed from that foundation.
  • Growth doesn't have to come at the expense of your existing audience.
    Rather than choosing between longtime Formula 1 fans and newcomers, Cadillac built parallel content strategies. Technical engineering content serves experienced fans, while personality-led storytelling helps new audiences find their way into the sport.
  • Accessibility can become a competitive advantage.
    Instead of unveiling their first livery behind closed doors, Cadillac transformed Times Square into an open fan experience. The strategy challenged Formula 1 conventions while remaining consistent with Cadillac's premium positioning.
  • Content velocity is an operational challenge—not just a creative one.
    Producing 200–300 pieces of content during a race weekend requires far more than creative talent. It depends on workflow design, production processes, editing speed, and cross-functional coordination in one of the busiest environments in professional sport.
  • Data should guide creative decisions—not replace them.
    Performance data informs what gets expanded, refined, or retired. Rather than chasing every trend, the team studies audience behaviour across platforms and invests more heavily where engagement signals genuine interest.
  • Platform strategy begins with audience behaviour.
    Instagram captures the broader Formula 1 lifestyle. YouTube serves deeper storytelling for dedicated fans. TikTok introduces new audiences through personality and behind-the-scenes moments. Threads functions almost like an ongoing focus group.
  • Innovation earns its place after operational excellence.
    Ahmed believes experimentation is essential, but only once the fundamentals are reliable. Strong marketing operations create the freedom to test bigger ideas with confidence.
  • Community is the long-term KPI.
    Audience growth matters, but the larger ambition is creating a fan base that begins referring to Cadillac Formula 1 as "we." That shift—from spectators to community—is the brand outcome the team is ultimately building toward.

Chapters

  • 00:00 — Building Cadillac F1
  • 01:40 — No Playbook
  • 02:33 — Winning New Fans
  • 05:14 — The Livery Reveal
  • 06:04 — Two Audiences
  • 08:56 — Scaling Content
  • 10:57 — Foundations First
  • 13:09 — Platform Strategy
  • 15:05 — Leading at Speed
  • 17:27 — Learning From Rivals
  • 18:37 — The Documentary
  • 19:42 — Building Community
  • 21:13 — Accessible by Design
  • 22:31 — Looking Ahead

Meet Our Guest

Ahmed Iqbal is a seasoned marketing executive with a background spanning automotive, technology, and finance. As Chief Marketing Officer of Cadillac Formula 1, he leads the team's global marketing strategy, brand development, fan engagement, and partnerships while shaping its identity in the U.S. motorsport market. Before joining Cadillac F1, he led automotive strategy at TikTok after serving as Head of Global Automotive at Twitter (now X), following seven years in leadership roles at Audi of America and an early career in investment banking at J.P. Morgan.

Resources from this episode:

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