F1 teams withdraw from official sim racing competition, future in doubt

F1 is also believed to be working on ‘something else’ in an attempt to keep virtual racing in its portfolio.

Drawing in large sim racing audiences, the races have historically been broadcast across the sport’s widely followed online channels.

Despite this, F1’s flagship racing game competition has been under fire in recent years.

The 2026 season, running between March and May, drew an average YouTube viewership of ~205,000 during the races (more than any other sim racing competition), with prize money totalling $750,000.

Alpine’s Otis Lawrence and Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing were crowned Drivers’ and Teams’ champions respectively after a dramatic and controversial finale.