Simulator work has become one of the cornerstones of modern Formula 1, allowing teams not only to prepare their cars for each Grand Prix weekend but also to validate and refine upgrades before they ever reach the track. However, all of this depends on one crucial factor: having accurate and reliable simulation models. Cadillac has therefore turned to an unexpected but highly promising talent behind the scenes—a 16-year-old American driver who is helping the team develop its simulator models and carry out the vital correlation work at its Charlotte facility.
Simulators have become increasingly important in Formula 1 development because they are where new upgrades are tested and validated after being designed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel testing. The most critical aspect of the entire process is correlation: the virtual models created at the factory must accurately reflect what happens on the real circuit. Without that alignment, even the most sophisticated development work loses much of its value.
Although this season introduced significant technical regulation changes, Formula 1 teams still began from a foundation built over previous years. As explained during the winter, the knowledge accumulated from earlier campaigns is never discarded. Instead, teams use it as a benchmark to understand how the new regulations influence car behaviour before gradually introducing the first design changes and performance updates.
Race after race, engineers continue refining those simulation models by comparing them with real-world track data. For Cadillac, however, the challenge has been considerably greater because the team did not have years of historical Formula 1 data to rely on. Having effectively started from a blank sheet of paper, the American outfit has had to build its technical database from scratch, with the biggest challenge being the creation of the same level of simulator-to-track correlation that rival teams have spent years perfecting.
Official race drivers cannot always spend long periods working in the simulator because of their commitments away from race weekends and an increasingly demanding Formula 1 calendar. Their contribution is therefore generally focused on evaluating the most significant upgrades and helping engineers fine-tune the car’s setup ahead of each Grand Prix.
For that reason, every Formula 1 team relies heavily on reserve and development drivers, who carry out the vast majority of simulator work throughout the season.
Many Formula 1 teams make use of drivers who also compete in championships like the FIA World Endurance Championship or Formula E. At Red Bull, for example, Formula E World Champion Jake Dennis plays a key role in simulator development, while Ferrari can count on WEC World Champion Antonio Giovinazzi alongside former Formula E driver Norman Nato. It is a much broader network than many fans realise, bringing together expertise from several racing categories to strengthen simulator development programmes.
Cadillac’s situation is even more complex because its primary simulator is located at the team’s American base. From a logistical perspective, it is not always possible to rely on the official race drivers, making it essential to have a large group of dedicated development drivers available. It is therefore no surprise that Cadillac has assembled an extensive simulator roster that includes Zhou Guanyu, Colton Herta, Pietro Fittipaldi, Simon Pagenaud and Charlie Eastwood.
Several of those drivers are also committed to other racing programmes, prompting Cadillac to explore additional opportunities within the American motorsport scene. The objective is to maintain continuity in simulator operations while continuously refining its virtual models. That search led the team to Aiden Price, a talented 16-year-old American driver who spends the early part of each week supporting General Motors by helping improve simulator models across several racing categories, including Formula 1.
Alongside competing in a number of American racing series, Price also has his own simulator at home. Formula 1 teams have long involved young drivers in development work, particularly those racing in Formula 2 and Formula 3, both to help them gain experience and to benefit from their simulator mileage. It is also well known that some teams have looked beyond traditional motorsport, recruiting talented sim racers to support development. Red Bull, for instance, worked with Rudy Van Buren for several years, making use of his expertise to strengthen its simulator programme.
In Price’s case, his primary responsibility is to support the drivers who later carry out the detailed development work on Cadillac’s Formula 1 car by completing much of the preparatory work beforehand. His main task is to assist engineers in building, validating and comparing simulation models—including tyre models—while consistently producing lap times that are not far from those of the team’s reference drivers.
It is important to understand that building a Formula 1 simulator involves far more than purchasing sophisticated hardware and mounting a chassis onto a motion platform. The real challenge lies in developing the complex software systems that accurately reproduce the behaviour of the car, tyres and track conditions, allowing engineers to create a virtual environment that mirrors reality as closely as possible.
When it comes to preparing race setups, much more experienced drivers naturally take over. Their role becomes especially valuable during Grand Prix weekends, when they reproduce problems encountered on track inside the simulator and work alongside engineers to identify practical solutions before the cars return to the circuit.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of all is the sheer number of people involved behind the scenes in making a Formula 1 simulator effective. It is far more than a sophisticated machine—it is a complete technical laboratory where engineers, software specialists, development drivers and simulator experts work together every day to improve the team’s understanding of the car and accelerate development throughout the Formula 1 season.
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