Coronavirus moves F1 races online. Max Verstappen to join special esports event
Max Verstappen, the Belgian-Dutch racing driver who competes in Formula One with Red Bull Racing, will join Lando Norris for a coronavirus-free esports showdown against a field of top gamers.
As the coronavirus cancellations hit the real-world motorsport calendar, F1 drivers turn to virtual racing. Max Verstappen, the Belgian-Dutch racing driver who competes in Formula One with Red Bull Racing, will join Lando Norris for a coronavirus-free esports showdown against a field of top gamers.
The race is expected to take place from 1 pm GMT on Sunday, 15th March, and can be watched live on YouTube for free, with updates from BBC Formula E and F1 commentator Jack Nicholls. The competitors will be fighting it out for a $10,000 prize fund package.
Watch The Race live here:
Verstappen joins a packed entry of big names from the world of racing, including Indy 500 winners Simon Pagenaud and Juan Pablo Montoya. Montoya will take part alongside his son Sebastian – one of the rising stars in the world of motorsport.
Formula E stars Antonio Felix DaCosta, Max Gunther and Andre Lotterer have also signed up, as has leading WEC driver Neel Jani and British F3 talent Billy Monger. Mercedes’ inaugural F1 Esports champion Brendon Leigh is another name on the all-star roster.
The Race’s All-Star Esports Battle has been created by parent company Torque Esports in partnership with leading race simulation software rFactor 2 to provide fans with some racing action as the coronavirus cancellations hit the real-world motorsport calendar. The event has been put together in partnership with leading race simulation software rFactor 2, using the Formula ISI 2012 package.
“We got wind that Australia wouldn’t be going on, we guessed that the IndyCar race might be canned and we already knew that the Formula E races were done,”
Darren Cox, founder of the Race and CEO of Torque Esports.
Motorsport cancellations due to Coronavirus
- Bahrain and Vietnam grands prix officially postponed
- Formula E officially suspends season for two months with hopes of racing again in June.
- 2020 MotoGP start delayed again as Argentina postponed
- Formula One has said it hopes to start the season in Europe at the end of May, subject to review.
- U.S.-based IndyCar has cancelled all events through March and April.
More updates on the event: the-race.com
