Formula 1 announces winner of first eSport series

The Formula 1 Esports Series is out to find the best virtual F1 driver in the world.

Earlier this summer motorsport enthusiasts and gamers rejoiced at the news that Formula 1 was going to launch its Esports Series to coincide with the release of its video game, F1 2017. The competition saw fans and gamers from all over the world battle it out to uncover the best virtual F1 driver and be crowned the Formula 1 Esports Series World Champion. The 2017 F1 Esport Series is the first annual competition that highlights the long-term investment of motor racing in eSports and gaming, as well as its continued ambition to build a greater connection with wider audiences, especially younger fans.

Competitors raced through three different stages. Qualification events took place throughout September to determine the quickest 40 drivers: this progressed to the live semifinal events, hosted at the Gfinity Arena in London on October 10th and 11th. The top 20 progresses to the Finals, which took place at the Yas Marina as part of the 2017 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 24th and 25th. At the end of a three-race event, the first Formula 1 Esports World Champion was crowned on the same weekend as the final 2017 Formula 1 Grand Prix. The title went to British teenager Brendon Leigh from Reading who will be the Formula 1 Esports Champion Expert for 2018 and has automatically qualified for the semi-finals of next year’s Formula 1 Esports Series. The Esports champion will also be offered the opportunity to live the full experience of a Formula 1 race by attending one of the 2018 Grand Prix, as well as becoming a character in the F1 2018 game. Motorsport has been closely aligned to gaming for a number of years, but the jump into the eSports segment represents an opportunity to take fan engagement to a new level.

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