Feature

8 Apr 2026

Your guide to the F1 Sim Racing World Championship

Whether you're a long-time fan of Formula One or new to sim racing, the 2026 season offers a thrilling and accessible way to experience elite-level racing.

With the championship finely poised after the first three rounds, there's only one event remaining until the champion is crowned.

Get ready for the finale with everything you need to know about the 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship.

What is the F1 Sim Racing World Championship?

Returning for its ninth season in 2026, the F1 Sim Racing World Championship features some of the finest Esports drivers in the world racing for official F1 teams and competing for a share of a $750,000 prize pool.

The 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship features four events across the season, with three races taking place at each round.

Who is competing in the series?

This year, the Aston Martin Aramco F1 Esports Team looks to build on strong foundations in its fifth season in the fiercely competitive series.

Duncan Hofland remains with the team, while Jan Haladej earns promotion from development driver to a full-time race seat.

Joining them for 2026 is Spaniard Rubén Pedreño, who arrives to complete the team's line-up for the season ahead.

The three drivers will work closely with development drivers Shanaka Clay and Liam Stevens, who will both play vital supporting roles on and off the simulator and elevate performance.

The calendar

The season got underway at DreamHack Birmingham on 27–29 March, with an exciting start to the campaign and a podium secured for the team. For Event Two, the teams moved to the F1 Technology Centre in Biggin Hill for races in Saudi Arabia, Barcelona and Silverstone on 22–23 April.

In Event Three, our team raced in the Netherlands, secured a podium in Belgium and picked up additional points at the United States Grand Prix.

Next up, the season concludes with races in Mexico City, Brazil and Abu Dhabi on 27–28 May.

27 March

ROUND 01: CHINA

28 March

ROUND 02: JAPAN

29 March

ROUND 03: BAHRAIN

22 April

ROUND 04: SAUDI ARABIA

23 April

ROUND 05: SPAIN

23 April

ROUND 06: GREAT BRITAIN

13 May

ROUND 07: BELGIUM

14 May

ROUND 08: NETHERLANDS

14 May

ROUND 09: USA

27 May

ROUND 10: MEXICO

28 May

ROUND 11: BRAZIL

28 May

ROUND 12: ABU DHABI

The schedule

Qualifying for the Mexico City and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix takes place at 17:30 BST, followed by the race at 20:00 BST.

For the São Paulo Grand Prix, Qualifying will be at 12:00 BST and the Grand Prix will happen at 14:30 BST.

What's the structure of the events in 2026?

A short practice session opens each round, shortly followed by Qualifying, where drivers go head-to-head in the fight for pole position.

Then, a few hours later, a Grand Prix of 50 per cent race distance takes place.

Each round features all the usual F1 action, strategy and tyre management, and even differing weather conditions can add an additional challenge.

The points

The F1 Sim Racing World Championship points system mirrors the official F1 points system, with the addition of a bonus point given for pole position and another for the driver who set the fastest lap in the top 10.

How to watch the F1 Sim Racing World Championship and follow the team's progress

Fans across the world can watch every race live, or catch up on all the action from the first round, via F1's official channels on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch.