Esports: Ferrari joins F1 virtual championship for first time

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Ferrari have decided to join Formula One's Esports for the first time, thus ensuring all 10 teams will line up on the virtual grid in this year's world championship.

The Italian team are the only ones without a presence in the first two seasons of the official F1 Esports championship but team boss Mattia Binotto had recently said they were looking to enter this season.

Mercedes won both titles last year, as in the real world.

F1 Esports in the F1 FanZone at German Grand Prix, in Hockenheim, Germany, July 19, 2018. /VCG Photo

Julian Tan, F1's head of growth and Esports, said Ferrari's inclusion was a “momentous milestone” for the virtual championship.

“It's really exciting to see that all of F1's teams have bought into the vision,” he said.

The Esports championship will kick off with a Pro Draft in July, which will determine each team's drivers lineup ahead of the four live events to decide the champion between September and December.

F1 Esports Series will also arrive in China later this year for the first time, where players can sign up to join the virtual race in different regions across the country, with the final national champion and runner-up competing with world top racers at the global championship.

F1 has more than doubled the prize money for this year's Esports world championship, with the virtual teams racing for a very real pot of $500,000 compared to last year's $200,000.

Thursday 19th July 2018.

Source(s): Reuters