Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited (MFRL) has appointed cricketer Shreyas Iyer as the official brand ambassador for the F1 Programme in India, the company announced on April 30. Under an agreement granting Mumbai Falcons the rights to host a Formula 1-sanctioned sim racing competition, the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026 will create a national competitive platform to nurture emerging talent across the country, according to a release. The appointment underscores Mumbai Falcons’ commitment to developing sporting culture and infrastructure across multiple disciplines. The release described Iyer as one of Indian cricket’s most consistent match-winners and a leader across different formats. It added, “Off the field, he occupies a growing space in youth culture, with an audience that extends well beyond traditional cricket fans. His strengths and achievements represent high performance, adaptability, and a direct connection with India’s digital-native sporting generation, making him a fitting face for the Championship.” Speaking about the role, Iyer said, “Sport has always been about finding your edge and staying disciplined enough to act on it. When I heard what Mumbai Falcons is building in terms of a real pathway that takes young Indians from where they are today to where they could go, I didn’t need much convincing. This is the kind of initiative I would have wanted access to growing up, and I’m proud to be part of what’s coming.” Ameet Gadhoke, Managing Director of MFRL, commented, “We built Mumbai Falcons on the belief that India has world-class sporting talent; the potential, however, has been constrained by structural deficiencies. Partnering with Formula 1 to bring the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026 to life is yet another significant initiative in that direction.” He added, “Shreyas represents exactly the kind of athlete we had in mind when shaping this initiative, displaying sporting excellence and discipline