With the 2020 Formula 1 season still on hold, professional drivers, celebrities, and streaming stars are heading back to their simulators for the latest round of F1’s Virtual Grand Prix series on Sunday, April 5. Here’s everything you need to know to make sure you don’t miss any of the action.
With major sporting events around the world indefinitely suspended, many have turned to gaming as a way to keep themselves and their fans entertained until they can get back to real-life action. Formula 1 has been leading the way with their official Virtual Grand Prix and the “Not the…” series run by Veloce Esports in conjunction with the motorsport championship.
With the Bahrain Virtual GP proving to be a major success, the action continues this weekend as some of F1’s biggest names team up with other professional racers, esports stars, and celebrities to head down under and take on Albert Park for the second running of the Virtual GP series.
We’re gearing up for our second #VirtualGP this weekend… and the line-up is looking ?#F1Esports https://t.co/l0iztDU7Gx
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 2, 2020
When and where is the April 5 Virtual Grand Prix?
The action returns to the virtual track on Sunday, April 5, as 20 drivers compete to win the second running of this online series using the F1 2019 game on PC. The action is set to kick off at 8 PM BST / 12 PM PT / 3 PM EST, starting with qualifying to determine the grid positions for the 28-lap race which kicks off afterward.
While the first Virtual Grand Prix took place on the same weekend as the Bahrain race was originally scheduled, with drivers speeding around the in-game version of the track, F1 was scheduled to be in Hanoi for the first running of the Vietnamese Grand Prix. With the street circuit not featured in F1 2019, the grid will instead head to Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia to run what is usually the opening race of the World Championship season.
April 5 F1 Virtual Grand Prix streams
The full race will be broadcasted across all of Formula 1’s official media platforms, with streams on their YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook accounts, alongside their website. The race will also be broadcasted by the sport’s international broadcast partners, with Sky Sports in the UK confirmed to be showing both qualifying and the race on their dedicated F1 channel.
On top of that, some drivers will also be streaming their own PoV’s during the race, with McLaren’s Lando Norris likely to broadcast on his Twitch channel. You can watch F1’s official stream, plus Lando’s, below.
Official Formula 1 stream
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Lando Norris’ stream
Who will be competing in the Virtual Grand Prix?
F1 have already confirmed that five professional drivers will be competing in the second Virtual GP, with McLaren’s Lando Norris and Williams’ Nicholas Latifi returning. Joining them are Latifi’s teammate George Russell, Red Bull Racing’s Alex Albon, and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
England Cricket World Cup winner Ben Stokes will be teaming up with Albon to complete the Red Bull Racing lineup, with Sky Sports F1 broadcasters Johnny Herbert and Anthony Davidson also making an appearance.
Some Road to F1 drivers will also compete, with ART’s Christian Lundgaard, Charouz’s Louis Deletraz, and Haas F1 reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi also scheduled to be in action, with more racers to be announced.
Confirmed F1 Virtual GP drivers and teams
- Lando Norris – McLaren
- Alex Albon – Aston Martin Red Bull Racing
- Ben Stokes – Aston Martin Red Bull Racing
- Charles Leclerc – Scuderia Ferrari
- George Russell – ROKIT Williams Racing
- Nicholas Latifi – ROKIT Williams Racing
- Johnny Herbert – TBD
- Anthony Davidson – TBD
- Christian Lundgaard – TBD
- Louis Deletraz – TBD
- Pietro Fittipaldi – Haas F1 Team
