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The 2020 Virtual Grand Prix series was a beacon of hope for many racing fans in the first half of the year. As the pandemic rocked the world, forcing everyone to stay inside and preventing track racing from happening, the digital racing helped keep boredom at bay, and spirits raised.
Now, the VGPs have been nominated for not one but two awards! The first, with the Sports Industry Awards, is for Virtual Event of the Year. The award focuses on sports that adapted to lockdown quickly and helped pivot their physical sports into virtual ones. With eight exciting races, three #Challenge events, and seven Pro Exhibition races involving pro F1 Esports drivers, the VGP series certainly fits the bill. The SIAs will take place on September 8 in London.
The second award is with The Drum, where the Virtual Grand Prix series is up in the Sports and Leisure category of their annual Marketing Awards. Covering all things media, marketing and business, The Drum have held an annual awards ceremony since 2012, and the 2021 edition marks our first nomination. The awards will take place on July 8.
With the VGPs being developed by F1 in partnership with Codemasters, Gfinity, and several other key organisations, both nominations are testament to the huge amount of work that goes on behind the scenes by hundreds of people. Not to mention, the thousands of you that tuned in and helped us make the racing a success. Thank you – we really do appreciate it!
Vamos Enzooooo! Enzo Fittipaldi won our first Virtual Grand Prix of 2021, after a thrilling fight with Arthur Leclerc. He also amassed the highest points tally over the three-race series, making him our unofficial 2021 champion. Now, the Brazilian has finally got his hands on his trophy.
“Hey everyone! It’s Enzo Fittipaldi! I received something really special today — the F1 Virtual Grand Prix winning trophy that I received at Austria!” He began.
“Whoa, it’s really cool! Look at that. Thank you so much Formula 1, thank you Haas F1 Team for the opportunity. I was alongside my brother Pietro, we were team mates, we were able to win the teams’ and drivers’ championships which is great.”
The Fittipaldi brothers, or ‘FittiForce’ as they are lovingly named by their fans on social media, race in all three Virtual Grands Prix for Haas, while some others changed their rosters from race-to-race. Both scored massive points in all three races, giving them unassailable lead in the standings. This ensured Haas got the biggest slice of the prize pot pie, going to their chosen charity, Grand Prix Trust.
Enzo and his Brother Pietro celebrated their victory after the third race, joined by their adorable puppy too:
“The event was amazing, I enjoyed every single moment, so it was just amazing. Thank you so much, and I look forward to doing it again soon.”
The 2021 Virtual Grand Prix series is in the history books for now, but we’re just getting started with our other 2021 plans! Join us for the F1 Esports Pro Exhibition, coming at you on Thursday, May 27 across our social channels. There, you’ll be able to see the latest talented drivers hoping to score a full-time drive with one of the official F1 Esports teams. Don’t miss it!
Haas claim top spot in standings as Russell takes sixth straight virtual win
George Russell claimed yet another Virtual Grand Prix win on Sunday, making it six out of six for the Williams ace! His heroics were not enough to overhaul Haas F1 Team though, with brothers Enzo and Pietro Fittipaldi yet again delivering a double top-five finish to put huge points on the board.
Enzo followed Russell home in second place, which Pietro’s P5 finish was enough to ensure the American outfit could not be caught.
The frantic five-lap Sprint Race saw Alpine’s Nicolas Longuet take the win, after resisting constant pressure from FDA Esports’ Brendon Leigh to take first place. The win gave French comedian – and Virtual Grand prix debutant – Arnaud Tsamere a surprise pole position, with Dino Beganovic lining up second.
The start of the Feature Race was as chaotic as they come, with several cars making contact and spinning throughout the pack. The biggest beneficiary of this was Russell, who started way down in P14 thanks to a time penalty for Williams stablemate Alvaro Carreton. Russell evaded most of the carnage and emerged a stunning third after the opening corners, climbing to first place after hunting down Tsamere and then putting a move on Beganovic at the start of the third lap.
He was not the only driver in the ascendancy, with Enzo Fittipaldi sweeping past Beganovic on Lap 6 for second place, having started down in ninth. Beganovic started the first ever Virtual Grand Prix back in March 2020, but showed he has lost none of his sim racing prowess, engaging Alex Albon in a race-long duel for third place.
The battle for the final points-paying position was a feisty one too, with Jack ‘Pie Face’ McDermott hounding AlphaTauri’s Luca Salvadori in the latter stages. But a late spin for the streamer dropped him out of contention, and the final points positions confirmed.
Behind top two Russell and Enzo Fittipaldi came Albon, followed by Beganovic and Pietro Fittipaldi. Sixth place was hotly-contested too, with Arthur Leclerc and Jake Dixon eventually settling into P6 and P7 respectively. Poleman Tsamere ended up an impressive eighth, with Jimmer Broadbent in ninth, and Salvadori rounded out the points.
Haas clocked an incredible 85 points over the three races and earned the honour of team champions, with the Fittipaldi brothers celebrating with their puppy, Speed TimTim.
FDA Esports wrapped up in second, and Williams grabbed third after two wins in the last two races for Russell. All three teams will get the biggest portion of the prize pot, which goes to charities around the world.
Read more about how the teams’ winnings will be spent here.
That concludes things for the Virtual Grand Prix series! We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Keep your ear to the ground for updates on the 2021 F1 Esports Pro Championship, as we begin the search for our next superstar.
The Virtual Grand Prix series has provided us with a lot of fun in its two iterations. In the first half of 2020, the digital racing was a welcome distraction and source of entertainment for people as the Coronavirus pandemic brought the way of life for most people to a relative standstill.
In 2021 though, the element of lending a helping hands is much more direct. The series revolves around a charity prize pot of $100,000, which is split between the nine competing teams based on their finishing positions after the three races. Each of them will receive a guaranteed substantial donation, with the highest-scorers getting a bigger portion to go to their chosen charity.
After our first two races, Haas are out in front with 57 points, thanks to excellent results for Fittipaldi brothers Enzo and Pietro. FDA Esports line up in second with 42 points, with Red Bull in third, scoring 39 points in the first two races.
The three teams look likely to be the contenders for the biggest slice of the charity pie. So where will the funds be helping out? Let’s take a look at the chosen causes for each team.
Chosen charity: Wings For Life Spinal Cord Research
If you’ve been part of the Formula 1 fandom for a few years now, Wings For Life is likely a name you’ve heard before. Red Bull Racing are closely aligned with the non-profit charity, founded in Salzburg in 2004 by Dietrich Mateschitz, founder of Red Bull itself. Wings For Life funds vital medical research in the area of spinal cord injuries and paraplegia, with a goal of ultimately finding a cure for spinal cord injuries.
Red Bull’s interwoven history with the foundation has been deep-rooted in Formula 1, with the team running special liveries on three occasions to raise funds and awareness. At the 2007 British Grand Prix, Red Bull cars were adorned with thousands of fan photos, giving the cars a distinctive camouflage pattern that made for a truly unique look on-track. Five years later, they did it again at Silverstone, this time wrapping all those generous fans under a translucent layer of blue. The effect? An incredible digital shimmer, which looked exceptional in the pouring rain, and also raised thousands for Wings For Life.
Perhaps the most notable – or infamous – occasion was David Coulthard’s swansong race in F1, back in 2008. FIA rules prohibit cars from running separate liveries, with the cars essentially required to be identical. But in the interest of goodwill, this was waived at the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix, when Wings For Life Ambassador DC ran a striking white-liveried RB4. Qualifying mid-pack, the Scot was unfortunately taken out of the race after just two corners, but the impact of the exposure meant that while the history books will show a DNF for Coulthard, it was still a win for the charity.
With Wings For Life Ambassador and Reserve Driver Alex Albon taking home solid points in the first two races, they look likely to be getting a sizeable donation at the end of the series. Naturally, Scuderia AlphaTauri are also aligned with Wings, and will receive funds there too.
Chosen charity: The Talent Tap
How many people do you know with heaps of talent, a degree, diploma, or other qualification, that have struggled to break into the working world? The reality of the job market is tough. You need experience for jobs, but you need a job to gain the experience. It’s a vicious circle that can leave people frustrated and disappointed.
The Talent Tap looks to change that, providing its members and alumni with access to opportunities that they may not otherwise be able to reach. It’s a two-way street too, affording employers a fresh cohort of talented and determined people just ready to hit the ground running.
Alpine is a team with a burgeoning young driver academy. The Alpine Academy comprises of Formula 2 racer-winners Christian Lundgaard and Guanyu Zhou, Formula 3 champion Oscar Piastri, and Caio Collet & Victor Martins, who will make their F3 debuts in 2021 as team mates at MP Motorsport. Having such a prodigious group of racers ready to make the step up perfectly emphasises Alpine’s endeavour to support young people with their ambitions of going further, and so The Talent Tap is the ideal conduit through which to do some good.
Chosen charity: Save the Children Switzerland / Global
Both Alfa Romeo and Ferrari Driver Academy have selected Save The Children as their charity, albeit with Alfa’s focus on the Switzerland locale, with the Formula 1 team based in Hinwil.
Alfa Romeo Racing, operated by Sauber Group, are partnered with Save The Children, a charity which looks to give children the support they need in life, whether it be in everyday life, or extreme times of crisis or hardship, such as war, or environmental disasters. Children are the future, and this charity won’t rest until every child has the right to education, health care, and economic opportunities.
Ferrari Driver Academy’s proceeds will also go to Save The Children. Ferrari’s road car company held a charity auction at the tail end of 2020, where in collaboration with RM Sotheby’s they auctioned an ultra-luxurious Ferrari Roma, raising $750,000 for Save The Children’s vital education work in the USA. With FDA’s link-up with the charity for the Virtual Grand Prix, the bond with the Maranello-based entity continues.
Chosen charity: Grand Prix Trust
Formula 1 is a hell of a lot of fun. But for the people on the road constantly, it’s a huge task as well. The travelling circus spans most of the year, with mechanics, roadies, factory staff, catering, media and plenty of other personnel working crazy hours to bring the greatest spectacle on earth to life. The Trust helps people in need who no longer work in Formula 1, helping to cover medical expenses, bereavement costs, and other things they may need financial support with.
For over 3 decades the Grand Prix Trust has provided support for Formula 1’s unsung heroes helping team personnel to put their lives back on track when things go wrong. Founded by Sir Jackie Stewart in the 1980s, the Trust is now under the stewartship (if you’ll pardon the pun) of former F1 driver and Sky Sports F1 commentator, Martin Brundle.
The Grand Prix Trust aims to helps anyone who has worked in Formula 1 for at least two years, whether in recent times, or even as long ago as the 1960s. Back in 2018, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner drove an Aston Martin Vantage in a two-wheel stunt as a fundraising mission for the Trust. Red Bull may be jealous of Haas’ championship-leading credentials thus far in the Virtual Grand Prix series, but we’re willing to be that seeing the funds go to another charity close to them is a pretty good consolation prize.
Chosen charity: Mind
McLaren’s parity with Mind goes back to July 2020, when the two entities combined as F1 launched its #WeRaceAsOne campaign. No one could have foreseen the pandemic and its global effects, and the time in isolation has forced people into situations they may never have faced. Mental health, for millions, has taken an enormous hit. And so, in allying with Mind, McLaren are putting mental health first.
Mind was founded back in 1946 as the National Association for Mental Health (NAMH) and offers advice to people with mental health problems, as well as spotlighting them and helping to raise awareness for these often-hidden issues and illnesses that hundreds of millions of people grapple with on a daily basis.
McLaren have raised thousands for Mind since their partnership began in 2020. The most visual representation of their involvement was when drivers Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz painted their own helmets at the 2020 British Grand Prix in August. The striking, psychodelic designs were auctioned off to fans, with more than £70,000 raised. Then in October at the Eifel Grand Prix, and to coincide with World Mental Health Day (October 10), the drivers sported replicas of those awesome patterns to once again spotlight the vital work of this charity.
Chosen charity: Alzheimer’s Research UK
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, and is a progressive disease which causes memory loss, and impairs thinking skills. Mercedes have partnered with Alzheimer’s Research UK, the leading dementia research charity in the UK, to raise money for this charity which helps to fund crucial research. Alzheimer’s Research UK is the team’s official charity partner for 2020-21, and you can contribute to their JustGiving campaign here, or visit the Alzheimer’s Research UK website here.
Outside of Mercedes, Sir Jackie Stewart has helped fund vital research for Alzheimer’s Research UK, partnering the charity with his own Race Against Dementia to donate £1.5M in 2019, to help exceptional researchers in the fight against dementia. The fact that JYS is on this list twice as a founder of two separate charities is testament to his pioneering nature, and his outstanding commitment to make the world a better place. He founded Race Against Dementia after his wife, Lady Helen Stewart, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
Mercedes didn’t contest the second Virtual Grand Prix, but with a second-place finish for Stoffel Vandoorne in the opening race, the Silver Arrows have a healthy bunch of points, and could be in with a shout of making the top three in the standings after the third race.
Chosen charity: Spinal Injury Association (SIA)
To call Sir Frank Williams a legend would be a disservice to all he has achieved. A true titan of motorsport, Williams, and his eponymous team ruled Formula 1 for much of the 1980s and 90s. And most of this, despite the fact that Williams himself has been bound to a wheelchair since 1986. We could continue, but we think his daughter, SIA Ambassador, and former Deputy Team Principal of Williams, Claire, put it best on the SIA website:
“In 1986 my father, Sir Frank Williams, sustained a spinal cord injury. With the help of SIA and a strong support network he managed to rebuild his life and return to work as the Founder and Team Principal of the Williams F1 Team. The success he has managed to achieve in F1 since his injury has been inspirational to me and the sport as a whole, and Williams continues to support SIA as we owe the charity a great debt of gratitude.â€
Though the Williams family stepped away from the team in mid-2020, the presence of Sir Frank, Claire, and the rest of the family dynasty is still felt strongly, and so the team’s choice of charity is one embedded in its history. George Russell missed out on the first race in Austria, but returned in classic style in Silverstone to take victory, with team mate Nicholas Latifi also scoring points. Their haul in the first two races should give them a great base from which to challenge in the final race.
The final Virtual Grand Prix gets under way on Sunday, February 14. Tune in to the action from 18:00 GMT / 19:00 CET to see who emerges victorious, and which of the teams will be taking home the biggest share of the charity winnings. See you there!
The ‘GR-Albono duo’ to face off once more in virtual Sao Paulo finale
The Virtual Sao Paulo Grand Prix brings to a close our trio of pre-season races on F1 2020, the official F1 game by Codemasters – and it’s Williams ace George Russell who has the momentum going into the final event.
Off the back of his win last weekend around Silverstone, the Briton now has an incredible streak of five wins in a row, stretching back to 2020. He managed four wins in Spain, Monaco, Azerbaijan and Canada before sitting out the 2021 opener in Austria. Brazil would therefore mark six-in-a-row for Russell, so all eyes will be on him.
He will however be joined by Red Bull Reserve Driver and Wings For Life Ambassador Alex Albon, who steps up to compete again. Albon won last year’s virtual race in Brazil, after a tense fight with Charles Leclerc, and so he will hope to put his past form to good use. Albon is joined by one of Red Bull’s legendary Driftbrothers, Johannes Hountondji, but forward momentum will be of the utmost importance, as well as all the stylish sliding he’s used to!
Team points leaders Haas once again bring the full power of the FittiForce with them, enlisting the help of brothers Enzo and Pietro Fittipaldi for the third race in a row. Their points tally of 57 currently leads the way, and could see the team scoop the biggest portion of the $100K charity prize pot if they can maintain their position.
Second in the championship are Ferrari Driver Academy, and they will once again field two of their bet and brightest future stars in Arthur Leclerc, and Dino Beganovic. Alain Prost holds the record for wins at the Brazilian Grand prix, with six. And though five of those were at the Autodromo Internacional Nelson Piquet in Rio, Prost’s victory in 1990 means the family has strong ties to Interlagos. Nicolas Prost steps up for Alpine, alongside comedian Arnaud Tsamere.
Both Mercedes entrants for Brazil are more accustomed to two wheels than four. Nevertheless, cycling world champion Rohan Dennis, and Moto2 star Jake Dixon will compete for the Silver Arrows, as they look to return to the form they showed in the opening race. Alfa Romeo and AlphaTauri stick to what they know, fielding the same line-up once more, with Jack ‘Pie Face’ McDermott’ & Thibaut Courtois racing for the Swiss-based outfit, and Luca Salvadori & Tonio Liuzzi returning to race for Faenza’s finest.
Mercedes: Jarno Opmeer and Dani Moreno
Red Bull Racing: Frede Rasmussen and Marcel Kiefer
McLaren: James Baldwin and Josh Idowu
Alpine: Nicolas Longuet and Fabrizio Donoso
FDA: David Tonizza and Bendon Leigh
AlphaTauri: Joni Tormala and Manuel Biancolilla
Alfa Romeo: Dani Bereznay and Thijmen Schutte
Haas: Samuel Libeert and Cedric Thome
Williams: Alvaro Carreton and Alessio di Capua
Keep eyes peeled on social media for the final puzzle pieces as they slot into place, and remember to set your reminders for the final race! Action gets going from 18:00 GMT across Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, TV channels like Sky Sports F1 and Ziggo Sport, and on Huya for our fans in China. We look forward to seeing you there!
Briton races to fifth virtual win after battle with Alex Albon
Williams racer George Russell made the perfect comeback in the Virtual Grand Prix series on Sunday night, conquering the taking victory around his home race in Silverstone. His race-long fight with Alex Albon, also a Virtual race-winner, provided entertainment throughout, with both drivers working together to cut through the field.
By virtue of Brendon Leigh’s first win for Ferrari Driver Academy in the Sprint Race, Callum Ilott headed the field from pole in the Feature Race, with Albon alongside in second. Russell meanwhile began the race in fifth place, separated from his fellow F1 racers by Thibaut Courtois in third, and Jimmy Broadbent in fourth.
Courtois put on the move of the evening in the early stages, surging past Alex Albon through the super-fact Maggots corner to momentarily take second place. However, the Belgium international goalkeeper could not keep the F1 racers behind for long, and on the following lap he was deposed by both Russell and Albon.
The pair worked in tandem to try and hunt down Ilott’s now-considerable lead, with both opting to start on the medium tyres and switch to the softs late on. The pace advantage this afforded them was key, and the duo broke away before too long. Fuel management played a small part, with Russell running out of fuel with a handful of corners to go, allowing Albon to get the jump on him on the very last lap! However, due to time penalties, the positions remained unchanged, giving Russell his fifth virtual victory.
Behind Russell, Albon and Ilott, the Fittipaldi brothers continued their impressive run, with Pietro Fittipaldi in fourth, and last weekend’s race winner, Enzo, in fifth. F2-racer-to-be Liam Lawson crossed the line sixth, followed by Nicholas Latifi, Robert Shwartzman, Ben Daly, and Luca Salvadori in tenth.
All teams will go home with a sizeable chunk of the charity prize pot, but the results put Haas in a commanding lead of the points, with 57. Next-closest are FDA Esports on 42, with Red Bull Racing on 39 just behind.
The final of our three Virtual Grands Prix will take place on Valentine’s Day, Sunday February 14. As before, the action gets going from 18:00, across Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and on TV channels globally too. It’s a date!
Williams duo to link up with Alex Albon for second Virtual Grand Prix
The British Virtual Grand Prix takes place this weekend on Sunday February 7, and the entry list is filling up with talents from in and around the world of motorsport. Sports stars and content creators once again join the action, as the grid assembles for the second of three special charity races.
Scroll down for the full list of drivers for both races.
Williams Racing’s George Russell and Nicholas Latifi are the headline names from the current crop of F1 drivers. Alex Albon, Red Bull Racing Test and Reserve Driver and Wings for Life ambassador, drove to an excellent P4 last time out in Austria, and will once again compete, alongside Red Bull junior team member Liam Lawson.
Haas stormed to victory last time out thanks to the efforts of Formula 3 star Enzo Fittipaldi, and the Little Shark will once again compete for the American outfit, alongside his brother and Haas Reserve driver Pietro.
They’re far from the only junior talents on display, with 2020 Formula 2 vice-champion Callum Ilott racing alongside 2019 Formula 3 champion Robert Shwartzman for FDA Esports. The duo, both part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, had a sensational 2020 season in Formula 2, challenging for the title, and taking seven wins between them.
Starter of 80 Grands Prix, Italy’s Tonio Liuzzi will race for Scuderia AlphaTauri, once again supported by his wingman; professional motorcycle racer Luca Salvadori. Alfa Romeo are in safe hands once again, as Belgium international goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois teams up with Jack ‘Pie Face’ McDermott’ for the second weekend in a row. McDermott is not the only YouTuber in contention, with Lucas Hauchard (better known by his handle SQUEEZIE) stepping in for Alpine.
Red Bull Racing: Alex Albon and Liam Lawson
McLaren: Jimmy Broadbent and Ben ‘Tiametmarduk’ Daly
Alpine: Squeezie and Theamusante
FDA: Robert Shwartzman and Callum Ilott
AlphaTauri: Vitantonio Liuzzi and Luca Salvadori
Alfa Romeo: Thibaut Courtois and Jack ‘Pie Face’ McDermott
Haas: Pietro and Enzo Fittipaldi
Williams: George Russell and Nicholas Latifi
Red Bull Racing: Frede Rasmussen and Marcel Kiefer
McLaren: James Baldwin and Josh Idowu
Alpine: Nicolas Longuet and Fabrizio Donoso
FDA: David Tonizza and Bendon Leigh
AlphaTauri: Joni Tormala and Manuel Biancolilla
Alfa Romeo: Dani Bereznay and Simon Weigang
Haas: Samuel Libeert and Floris Wijers
Williams: Alvaro Carreton and Alessio di Capua
Once again, the event will commence at 18:00 GMT / 19:00 CET, with the Sprint Race to be contested by the stars of the F1 Esports Series. This five-lap dash to the flag provided much excitement last time out, and the finishing order will determine the starting grid for the Feature Race, which takes place not long after.
There are plenty of ways to tune in! Join us on Sunday 7 February on YouTube, Facebook, or Twitch, and those in China can also view through Weibo and Huya. International television partners including Sky Sports, ESPN, FOX Sports and Ziggo will also be showing the event live, so it’s up to you how you tune in. We hope to see you there!
He’s got the winning gene! The Fittipaldis conquered the virtual world for Haas as Enzo, grandson of two-time Formula 1 World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi, won the first Virtual Grand Prix of the year while his brother Pietro finished P5.
After starting down in P9 the Brazilian driver, who competed in FIA Formula 3 last year, weaved his way through the chaotic pack to claim Haas’ first Virtual Grand Prix victory and sending them to the top of the teams’ standings, where they have the best chance to secure the largest donation to their charity Grand Prix Trust from F1.
He was pushed all the way by Ferrari Driver Academy’s Arthur Leclerc, who had snatched the lead from his Maranello team mate Marcus Armstrong. The latter started on pole position after 2019 F1 Esports Champion David Tonizza won the Sprint Race, but the Kiwi drifted backwards from there and finished P6.
Some others could only dream of a P6 finish, as the sunny opening laps in the Austrian countryside quickly saw a downpour of carbon fibre. Tonio Liuzzi, Jeffrey Herlings and Christian Lundgaard all got tangled up in the pack which plummeted them down the order.
Meanwhile, Alex Albon was going along his merry way from P18. He managed to swerve the flying debris at the start of his sensational charge to P4, only 1.4 seconds off the podium.
Arthur Leclerc was unphased in the lead, but the little shark’s overtakes, the affectionate nickname Brazilian fans have given Enzo Fittipaldi, were going swimmingly. First he dispatched Jimmy Broadbent before a daring move on Thibaut Courtois moved him closer to P1. Finally a sweeping overtake Benjamin ‘Tiametmarduk’ Daly set up a showdown with leader Arthur Leclerc.
The place: Red Bull Ring, Turn Three.Â
The task: Win the first Virtual Grand Prix of 2021.Â
The challengers: Arthur Leclerc and Enzo Fittipaldi.Â
With eight laps to go, you couldn’t separate the two drivers, even contact was made between the duo. With Leclerc going deep, Fittipaldi was able to steal the inside line and claim the lead. Five laps to go, and Leclerc responded with an inside dive of his own for a convincing overtake. But with only three laps to go, Fittipaldi once again went for the inside line giving him a lead he wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the race!
The unpredictability of Silverstone strikes the Virtual Grand Prix series as we head to Great Britain for Round Two. There will be a shake up of the grid as well, so make sure to stay tuned to all of F1’s social media accounts for any news!
Williams duo to headline first Virtual Grand Prix event
The Virtual Grand Prix is almost here! The digital race series, which emerged during the early stages of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, returns for a three-race pre season series, acting as a precursor to the season. So you’re probably wondering… who’s racing? Let’s take a look!
Scroll down for the full driver line-ups for both the Feature Race and Sprint Race.
Representing the current crop of Formula 1 drivers, Williams duo George Russell and Nicholas Latifi will spearhead the British team’s entry into the race series. With four wins and a whole lot of memes, Russell positioned himself as the star of the previous iteration of the Virtual Grand Prix. Team mate Latifi also enjoyed successful outings in 2020, and so the pair will look to pick up where they left off.
Joining the pair will be a host of former F1 stars, upcoming talents, and global icons, with more F1 drivers joining them in upcoming events.
Alex Albon, Red Bull Racing Test and Reserve Driver and Wings for Life ambassador, will return to the virtual series, having taking victory in last year’s Brazil race. His partner will be Red Bull KTM Factory rider and MXGP World Champion, Jeffrey Herlings.
Pietro Fittipaldi mixed it with the big guns in 2020, getting his first Formula 1 outings at the Sakhir and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, and he once again represents the American team, alongside his younger brother and F3 superstar Enzo.
Former F1 stars Stoffel Vandoorne and Tonio Liuzzi make their returns to the series for Mercedes and Scuderia AlphaTauri respectively, while Alpine F1 Team look to the future, in Formula 2 race winner Christian Lundgaard, and reigning FIA Formula 3 champion Oscar Piastri. Belgium national team goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also reprises his role as one of the core stars of the Virtual Grand Prix, returning for Alfa Romeo.
Mercedes: Stoffel Vandoorne and Anthony Davidson
Red Bull Racing: Alex Albon and Jerffrey Herlings
McLaren: Jimmy Broadbent and Ben ‘Tiametmarduk’ Daly
Alpine: Christian Lundgaard and Oscar Piastri
FDA: Marcus Armstrong and Arthur Leclerc
AlphaTauri: Vitantonio Liuzzi and Luca Salvadori
Alfa Romeo: Thibaut Courtois and Jack ‘Pie Face’ McDermott
Haas: Pietro and Enzo Fittipaldi
Williams: George Russell and Nicholas Latifi
Mercedes: Jarno Opmeer and Dnai Moreno
Red Bull Racing: Frede Rasmussen and Marcel Kiefer
McLaren: James Baldwin and Josh Idowu
Alpine: Nicolas Longuet and Fabrizio Donoso
FDA: David Tonizza and Bendon Leigh
AlphaTauri: Joni Tormala and Manuel Biancolilla
Alfa Romeo: Dani Bereznay and Thijmen Schutte
Haas: Cedric Thome and Samuel Libeert
Williams: Alvaro Carreton and Alessio di Capua
The Virtual Austrian Grand Prix takes place on Sunday 31 January, kicking off a trio of special live events as the teams do battle for a share of a charity prize pot that they will donate to a cause of their choosing.
The return of Virtual Grands Prix will give fans around the world excitement ahead of the Formula 1 season starting in Bahrain. However, the primary focus of this year’s three-race competition is to raise money for charities chosen by the teams. Each charity will receive a significant donation from the prize pot, regardless of where the team finishes in the standings. There are three races, so three chances to score!
This year’s Virtual Grand Prix events will begin with a five-lap Sprint Race, featuring the team’s talented F1 Esports Pro Series drivers. The order of this race will decide the starting for the Feature Race, where the teams’ pairings, made up of motorsport stars, sporting heroes and celebrities, will take to the track and get ready to race. After the first race at the Red Bull Ring, Silverstone and Interlagos will also play host to upcoming virtual races on the following weekends, of Sunday 7 February and Sunday 14 February respectively.
The Virtual Austrian Grand Prix festivities get going from 18:00 GMT on Sunday 31 January on the official Formula 1 YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, Huya (China) and Weibo (China) channels, as well as broadcast by international television partners including Sky Sports, ESPN, FOX Sports and Ziggo Sport. Set those reminders, and we’ll see you in the chat!
Opmeer and Moreno to join Huis at Silver Arrows for 2021
Reigning F1 Esports champion Jarno Opmeer teams up with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Esports Team for 2021! The Dutchman, who conquered the 2020 F1 Esports Pro Series, will switch teams from Alfa Romeo for the new season.
It’s the second huge signing in the world of F1 Esports in as many weeks, with two-time champion Brendon Leigh vacating his Mercedes ride to move to Ferrari Driver Academy Esports Team just last week.
He’s not the only new recruit, as Mercedes also bring in Dani Moreno from McLaren Shadow. Moreno was certifiably the rookie of the year in 2020, having been picked by the British squad at the 2020 Pro Draft reveal show. With a maiden podium and a handy clutch of points, the Spanish racer ended up eighth overall in the standings. Clearly it was enough to catch the eye of the 2018 team champions! Mercedes also confirmed that Bono Huis will remain with the team for a second season, after a fruitful 2020 season that saw him compete alongside Leigh.
This now leaves at least one seat vacant at both Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN and McLaren Shadow… so who will fill them? It’s yet to be announced if Dani Bereznay & Dominik Hofmann (Alfa) and James Baldwin & Matthias Cologon will remain at the teams after appearing in 2020, so watch out for any further announcements on social media.
“I can’t wait to start working with the Mercedes Team,” said Opmeer after his appointment. “Behind the scenes, we have already started working on our preparations for the Virtual Grands Prix. This is an extremely ambitious and talented team, and I’m going to try to get the maximum out of Esports this year.”
Opmeer and Moreno will not have to wait long for their first outing for Mercedes. The Virtual Grand Prix returns on Sunday January 31, and the duo will take on the Sprint Race for the Silver Arrows. The five-lap race will determine the grid for the Feature Race, in which a whole host of superstars from motorsport and beyond will compete. Keep your ears tuned to socials for driver announcements!
Don’t miss out, as the action gets going from 18:00 GMT across F1’s social media channels, as well as on TV with selected broadcast partners around the globe.