Cadillac hosts a 'virtual Monza Grand Prix' in anticipation of its F1 debut.
"It was more than just an academic exercise."
12 September 2025 - 15:55
Cadillac is intensifying its preparations for its 2026 entry into Formula 1, having conducted a comprehensive ‘shadow race weekend’ at last week’s Italian GP in Monza. According to Italy’s Autosprint, the American team replicated all aspects of the Grand Prix from their bases in Charlotte and Silverstone, with engineers, strategists, and media staff simulating the weekend as if Cadillac was already competing.
The operation involved approximately 50 individuals, with the ‘digital car’ being updated session by session in simulators, followed by analysis in technical debriefs. Strategy teams rehearsed different scenarios such as tire management, safety cars, and weather variations, while reliability meetings simulated checks on the power unit and transmission. "It wasn’t merely an academic exercise - the aim was to emulate the intricacies of a race weekend in every detail," reported journalist Ilaria Toscano.
Cadillac, under the leadership of Dan Towriss and Graeme Lowdon, both present at Monza, reportedly first tested this program during the Spanish GP in Barcelona earlier this year. The initiative also incorporates mock media duties for the drivers—who are expected to be Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez next year—to assist both newcomers and experienced drivers in juggling interviews, sponsor obligations, and technical briefings.
Software development has also been a significant advantage, as data from the simulations contribute to predictive algorithms that Cadillac aims to utilize for refining its race strategies ahead of their official debut in Melbourne in 2026. Towriss’ new personal assistant, Fiona Hewitson, who was previously involved in the Christian Horner-Red Bull situation, is now part of the management overseeing Cadillac’s Formula 1 project.
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