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What is F1 eSports?

F1 eSports series is a programme promoted by Formula 1. This was created in 2017 and played on the official F1 game and its community of players. In 2018 the official F1 teams joined to programme which meant each real life teams owned their own teams which consisted of 2 racers per team. The first year of the F1 eSports series had over 60,000 gamers participating and watched by 123 countries aroound the world and generating over 20,000,000 inpressions on social media. The first ever winner of F1 eSports was a English racer called Brendon Leigh.

In 2018 F1s first full season was a split of 2 stages. In stage 1 racers were offered and opportunity to earn a place on a official eSports driver line-up for one of the official f1 Teams. Over 66,000 people participated for a spot in the official teams. The series smashed the record of audience of 5,500,000 people across selected TV networks and live streams online. Mercedes AMG took the first official Championship and Brendon Leigh became the back to back 2 time Driver Champion.

In 2019 They announced that there will be a continuation of the F1 eSports Series with an increased prize pool of $500,000, this was the year where Ferrari had joined the series after choosing not to take part the year before, this year was won by David Tonizza, which drove for the new team Ferrari, with Red Bull winning Constructors championship. In 2020 F1 launched the Virtual Grand Prix , because the F1 championship had been cancelled due to covid-19. This championship began in Bahrain with the F2 driver Guanyu Zho as the winner, the series ended with the Canadian GP and with F2 drivers taking part there were also F1 drivers like George Russell of Williams, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, and Alex Albon of Red Bull won the other races. After the delayed start thanks to Covid-19 F1 announced the fourth instalment of the series. Thanks to the pandemic drivers and teams were required to work at home or at their team factories. The prize fund had again increased to $750,000 and the winner of this was Jarno Opmeer of Alfa Romeo, and yet again Red Bull winning the Constructors for the 2nd year running.

2021 was another successful year for F1 eSports where Jarno Opmeer became champion yet again but this time being transfered to Mercedes AMG team and this year was the year where Mercedes won the double with driver champion and Constructors champions. The format for these events is Qualification

Brendon Leigh

Brendon Leigh was born on 8th August 1999 and from Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom. Brendon started his Career eSports in 2017 completing this first year in the F1 eSports Series, Brendon won the inaugural season and won the season after in 2018, in 2019 Brendon competed with the Mercedes AMG Petronas Esports Team. He finished the season in 5th with 0 wins and only 2 podiums. 2019 was a little different for Brendon racing in the BRSCC Formula Ford 1600 Championship, fulfilling a part-time role at Kevin Mills Racing. He only competed in 11 races, and finished 13th in the championship. In 2021 Brendon announched that he had signed with the Ferrari Driver Academy Esports team. But sadly this season didnt go to plan for Brendon as he had this worst season to date scoring no wins and no podiums, getting himself to a 10th place finish in the drivers standings.

Jarno Opmeer

Jarno Opmeer was born in Dordrecht, Netherlands on 11th April 2000. Jarno is a little different compared to his competitor Brendon. Jarno started his racing Career in Karting at a Young age of 4. Jarno won the Dutch Championship titles in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Jarno graduated into single-seaters in 2016, racing in the SMP F4 Championship. He took 7 out of 13 podiums in his debuyt year at F4 finishing 2nd place in the championship. He was considered a very good driver. Jarno participated in 2 race meetings of the Spanish F4 with MP motorsport, taking 5 out of 6 podiums once again have an amazing year. In 2017 Jarno was inducted into Renault Sports Academy which would of been a direct link into Formula 1 but after the 2017 season his contract wasnt extended. In 2019 Jarno was signed to Renault-Vitality Esports team as a driver for the third season of the F1 eSports Series. The Dutchmam finished his first season in 4th place and help secure 4th for this team in the constructors. For 2020 Jarno signed for Alfa Romeo Orien Esports Team. He was the best racer that year taking 4 wins and the drivers championship, he won with 22 points clear of 2nd place. In 2021 Jarno signed to Mercedes AMG Esport Team and won the drivers championship once again.