Formula 1 will start its season anyway, but then virtually. Virtually all delayed races in the coming months will be completed online, including by a number of Formula 1 drivers. The virtual GPs take place on the same days as the real GPs were originally held.
The so-called ‘F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix Series’ starts next Sunday with the virtual Grand Prix of Bahrain, Formula 1 reports Friday. Fans can watch the race online, which “current Formula 1 drivers and a number of stars” will participate in. The names will be announced later. Chances are that Max Verstappen will participate; he is already very active in sim racing. McLaren driver Lando Norris is probably also for the same reason.
The virtual GPs are first qualified and then half a GP is driven. All in all, it takes about an hour and a half. The races will be broadcast on the official channels of Formula 1, including YouTube and Facebook. For the virtual Grands Prix, the official Formula 1 game of 2019 will be used. The Dutch GP on the Zandvoort circuit was not yet on the calendar last year and is therefore not in the game. As a result, this race will be virtually replaced by an alternative Grand Prix on May 3.
Due to the corona virus, the GPs of Australia and Monaco have been canceled and the races in Bahrain, China, Vietnam, the Netherlands and Spain have been postponed. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix on June 7 is currently the first race not yet postponed or canceled on the ‘real’ calendar.