The final pieces of the puzzle are increasingly falling into place for the eleventh racing team, Cadillac. The American team will make its debut in Formula 1 in 2026, and had previously announced that veterans Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas would be behind the wheel. Cadillac has now also unveiled their new trio of simulator drivers: former IndyCar driver Simon Pagenaud, former Haas reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi, and Corvette factory driver Charlie Eastwood.
The appointment of the trio as simulator drivers comes after IndyCar driver Colton Herta was previously assigned the role of reserve driver. Like Herta, Simon Pagenaud was also active in the American racing series until a severe concussion in 2023 ended his IndyCar career. Pagenaud then went to work as an IndyCar simulator driver for General Motors, but has been focusing on Cadillac’s Formula 1 activities in recent months.
Fittipaldi
Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi – grandson of F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi – was previously a reserve driver for the Haas team, and drove two Grands Prix in 2020 after Romain Grosjean’s horrific crash during the Bahrain GP. “I am extremely proud to finally be able to share that I have joined Cadillac F1,” the 29-year-old writes on his social media. “Over the past few months, we have been working on the development of the team’s F1 car for 2026 through simulator tests and full GP simulations. It is an honor to be part of such an iconic brand as Cadillac.” Northern Irishman Charlie Eastwood was previously employed by General Motors as a Corvette factory driver in the GT3 class.”
Cadillac team boss Graeme Lowdon is pleased with the selection of the three simulator drivers. “Our work in the simulator in Charlotte is of great importance for building the team,” explains the team boss. “It is crucial in many respects: consolidating our basic performance and aerodynamic settings, getting us race-ready for a Grand Prix weekend, validating systems and protocols, and also establishing clear and efficient communication lines between our bases in the United States, the United Kingdom, and ultimately on the track.”
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