Two current Formula 1 drivers will make their Virtual Grand Prix debut this weekend in the penultimate round of the esports series, before F1 returns for real next month.
The virtual grid will line-up in Azerbaijan with eight current drivers, as both Racing Point’s Sergio Perez and AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly will make their debut in the series.
They will be joined by regulars George Russell – who is attempting to make it a third consecutive win after his victory in Monaco – Alex Albon, Antonio Giovinazzi, Nicholas Latifi, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
Another celebrity driver will make their debut with Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte teaming up with Formula 3 driver Oscar Piastri for Renault.
Whilst AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma joins Gasly. Virtual GP regular and Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois returns once again for his fourth VirtualGP appearance, continuing his partnership with Giovinazzi at Alfa Romeo.
Former Dakar Rally World Champion, Matthias Walkner, will make his debut for Red Bull alongside Albon.
The live broadcast will be available on the official Formula 1 YouTube, Twitch and Facebook channels and will include a qualifying session followed by a 26-lap race.
Julian Tan, Head of Digital Business Initiatives and Esports said: “We are immensely proud of the Virtual Grand Prix series, which allowed us to bring Formula 1 to fans around the world, in a time when actual racing was not possible.
“We are very grateful to the teams and drivers that have taken part in the series to date and look forward to ending the series with a bang in the coming weeks as we all gear up to kick off the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship season in Austria.
“Great momentum has been gathered as part of our Virtual Grands Prix Series and we are excited to build on this momentum in our esports strategy going forward.”
