The start-up Cadillac Formula 1 operation has enlisted Simon Pagenaud as part of the driver crew for its simulator.

Pagenaud, 41, spent 12 years in IndyCar, taking the title in 2016, as well as victory at the Indianapolis 500 in 2019.

Pagenaud retired from competition in the wake of a violent accident at Mid-Ohio in 2023, but has remained involved in motorsport, and has been appointed as one of Cadillac’s simulator drivers.

“Optimizing the technical side of a car and managing relationships with the people in the factory has been my passion ever since I started racing,” said Pagenaud, who has been operating out of Cadillac’s facility in Charlotte.

“I really enjoy talking to the engineers, developing the simulator, and making it as realistic as possible. This work gives me a feeling of being useful and bringing in my expertise, something that was missing somehow since my accident.

“My role and my goal are to make the simulator as close to reality as possible and to set up the foundations of the car. I want to help Cadillac project itself as accurately as possible towards reality.”

Pagenaud has also been joined in the role by Pietro Fittipaldi, who spent several years as a reserve driver for Haas, which also included starting two grands prix in the 2020 season.

“We have been working together on the development of the team’s 2026 F1 car,” Fittipaldi said. “As a sim driver together with my teammates we have been doing extensive simulator testing and full race weekend simulations to prepare for next season.

“It’s a privilege to contribute my experience to a project of this scale and to be part of a brand as iconic as Cadillac.”

Formula 1 teams typically enlist several simulator drivers to assist them with behind-the-scenes preparation work, especially prior to and during grand prix weekends.

Cadillac has recruited veterans Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as its driver line¡up, with Colton Herta as a test driver.