Formula 1 News: Fittipaldi and Pagenaud Join Cadillac F1 as Simulator Drivers

The Cadillac Formula 1 Team, backed by General Motors, has two new additions to its roster: Pietro Fittipaldi (pictured above) and Simon Pagenaud, both hired as simulator drivers to support the team’s 2026 debut.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

With Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas confirmed as the race drivers, and Colton Herta as test driver, Fittipaldi and Pagenaud will work behind the scenes to refine car setups and race strategies through Cadillac’s advanced simulator facilities in Detroit and Silverstone.

Pietro Fittipaldi, 29, brings a diverse racing background. The grandson of two-time F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi, he raced in IndyCar until a severe 2018 crash at Spa disrupted his career. In 2025, he competed in IMSA’s LMP2 class with Pratt Miller Motorsports, earning podiums at Daytona and Sebring. Previously, he served as Haas’s F1 reserve driver, participating in FP1 sessions and post-season tests.

Simon Pagenaud, 41, is a former IndyCar champion (2016) and 2019 Indianapolis 500 winner. His career includes 15 IndyCar victories and pole positions at tracks like Long Beach and Barber. After a concussion from a 2023 crash at Mid-Ohio ended his full-time racing, Pagenaud transitioned to mentoring roles, notably with Meyer Shank Racing and Scott McLaughlin for IndyCar campaigns.

“Optimizing the technical aspect of a car and managing relationships with people at the factory has been my passion since I started racing,” explained Simon Pagenaud. “I really enjoy talking with the engineers, developing the simulator, and making it as realistic as possible. This work makes me feel useful and like I’m contributing my expertise, something that’s been lacking since my accident. My role and goal are to make the simulator as close to reality as possible and lay the foundations for the car. I want to help Cadillac project itself as accurately as possible toward reality.”

As simulator drivers, Fittipaldi and Pagenaud will analyze telemetry, test setups for circuits like Monaco and Suzuka, and provide data-driven insights to optimize the Cadillac F1-26 car. Their work will support Perez and Bottas in closing the gap to the front of the grid, leveraging the team’s state-of-the-art simulation technology to prepare for Formula 1’s competitive landscape.