The coronavirus crisis has led to a number of sporting events having to be postponed, suspended, or canceled this year. There has barely been a sport that has been left unscathed due to the various lockdown measures which have been implemented globally, and Formula One is no different. What was supposed to be the season with the most races ever, with 22 Grands Prix, is now probably going to be halved? At present, the first ten rounds of the 2020 F1 season have either been postponed or canceled entirely and while the season is currently set to begin with the Austrian Grand Prix on 5th July, there is no guarantee that it will go through. In such a time, there is a need to keep fans of the sport engaged, and so Formula One has turned to a medium which is becoming more and more popular as the pandemic wears on – esports.
The F1 series of games is immensely popular amongst motorsport fans, as it is extremely realistic, giving casual fans the chance to experience what it is like to drive and race in a Formula One car. The settings can be tuned to make the experience hyper-realistic, with every tiny tweak and change to the car’s setup having an impact on its performance on the circuit, or they can be made easier for new entrants to the game, with certain elements auto-selected. It is with the latter configuration that Formula One has been running a series of Virtual Grands Prix, to provide entertainment for fans but also keep the drivers occupied and give them some form of practice. The Virtual Grands Prix series has been broadcast live on streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube, with a number of existing Formula One drivers being joined by other sportspeople and celebrities. The most recent such event saw England cricketers Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad take the grid, alongside AC Milan and Italy defender Alessio Romagnoli, at the Virtual Brazilian Grand Prix. They were joined by a number of F1 drivers, including George Russell, Nicholas Latifi, Charles Leclerc, Alex Albon, and Antonio Giovinazzi.
Stokes is no stranger to F1 – he is an avid motorsport fan and this was his second Virtual Grand Prix, as he returned to partner Alex Albon for Red Bull Racing. Broad raced for the second Red Bull team, Scuderia AlphaTauri, alongside Romagnoli. The event was won by Stokes’ teammate Albon, who ended Leclerc’s domination of the series so far as he had won the first three virtual races, with Romagnoli ending in 15th and the two England cricketers brought up the rear.
Events like these look like becoming a staple for not just F1, but other sports all around the world, as they are faced with an increasing amount of time with no possibility of sports being played on the horizon. It is not surprising that esports and gaming have risen in popularity during this period, as more and more people look for sources of entertainment while being stuck in their homes. Another pastime that has gained a lot of traction recently is online gambling, with many people trying out real money online casinos for the first time. As stated previously, while Formula One plans on returning in July, those dates are not set in stone and depending on the status of the coronavirus pandemic in Europe and elsewhere, there could be a chance that there are further delays and cancellations. For now, F1 fans will just have to hope and pray for that to not be the case, and till then, get their F1 fix through these virtual races with some of the biggest Formula One drivers, as well as sportspersons and celebrities.
