Gilles Simon (born 14 June 1958 in

Oujda Oujda (, ) is a major city in northeast Morocco near the Algeria–Morocco border, border with Algeria. Oujda is the capital city of the Oriental (Morocco), Oriental region of northeastern Morocco and has a population of 506,224 people (2024 censu ...

, Morocco) is a French Formula One engineer and designer.

Career

Simon studied at the

École des Mines École or Ecole may refer to: * an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée) * École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France * Éco ...

, one of France's top engineering schools. He graduated in 1984 and joined the

Renault Renault S.A., commonly referred to as Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English), is a French Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company curr ...

team, where he worked in R&D for four years. He was then hired by

Peugeot Peugeot (, , ) is a French automobile brand owned by Stellantis. The family business that preceded the current Peugeot companies was established in 1810, making it the oldest car company in the world. On 20 November 1858, Émile Peugeot applie ...

and worked on the marque's

V10 engine A V10 engine is a ten- cylinder piston engine where two banks of five cylinders are arranged in a V configuration around a common crankshaft. V10 engines are much less common than V8 and V12 engines. Several V10 diesel engines have been pro ...

, which would ultimately achieve success in their

Le Mans Le Mans (; ) is a Communes of France, city in Northwestern France on the Sarthe (river), Sarthe River where it meets the Huisne. Traditionally the capital of the Provinces of France, province of Maine (province), Maine, it is now the capital of ...

effort in the early 1990s. In

1993 The United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1993 as: * International Year for the World's Indigenous People The year 1993 in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands had only 364 days, since its ...

, Simon followed compatriot

Jean Todt Jean Henri Todt (; born 25 February 1946) is a French motor racing executive and former rally co-driver. He was previously director of Peugeot Talbot Sport and then Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team principal, before being appointed chief executi ...

to Ferrari, assisting Paolo Martinelli in the Engine and Electronics Department. Following the Italian's move to an executive role within

Fiat Fiat Automobiles S.p.A., commonly known as simply Fiat ( , ; ), is an Italian automobile manufacturer. It became a part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in 2014 and, in 2021, became a subsidiary of Stellantis through its Italian division, Stellant ...

, Simon took over as head of the department in October

2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...

. Simon left his position in October 2009, and was replaced by

Luca Marmorini Luca Marmorini (born 17 June 1961) is an Italian engineer, who is the former head of the engine and electronics department at the Ferrari Formula One team. Career Marmorini started his Formula One career with Ferrari in , which he joined after ...

. In December 2009, FIA President

revealed that Simon is to join a working group to investigate new energies and environmentally friendly technology in motorsport. In July 2011, Simon left his FIA role to join

Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie Propulsion is the generation of force by any combination of pushing or pulling to modify the translational motion of an object, which is typically a rigid body (or an articulated rigid body) but may also concern a fluid. The term is derived from ...

(PURE), a new F1 engine supplier which aimed to enter the sport in . In 2013 Simon was hired as a consultant by

Honda commonly known as just Honda, is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate automotive manufacturer headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Founded in October 1946 by Soichiro Honda, Honda has bee ...

to work on their Formula One engine. He parted company with the Japanese marque in 2017.

References

*''Who is Gilles Simon?'
Grandprix.com article
retrieved October 28, 2006. 1958 births Living people Formula One engine engineers Ferrari people Honda people French motorsport people People from Oujda French expatriates in Morocco {{F1-bio-stub