How F1 Esports Became as Popular as The Real Thing

Screen Capture of esports competition. Watch video below

The world of competitive F1 is changing. If in the past video games have been seen as a waste of time, today even serious pilots from one of the most demanding car races in the world realize the complexity of these simulator and the actual amount of skill that goes into it. In fact, esports are now so akin to real sports that people are actually placing bets on the outcome of different gaming competitions, much like they do on football, basketball and soccer.

With this in mind, let's explore the F1 Esports Series a little further and see what they have to offer in the long term.

Formula 1 Esports Is Backed by All Racing Team

Formula 1 Esports is not a pariah insofar as real racing teams are concerned. All major participants in the regular competition have decided to field teams, some more reluctantly than others, but still. There is a massive interest in the esport, both in terms of gamers, audiences, business and more.

Some of the world's most admired car makers have teamed up with capable gamer who excel in a virtual simulator race. Mercedes-Benz, McLaren Shadow, Sauber F1, Williams, and Red Bull have all decided to back the competition, seeing it as one of the more successful segments of the future.

McLaren is one of the most dedicated racing teams to invest in esports. The company appointed their own Head of Esports in the face of Ben Payne. In a recent interview with GamesIndustrybiz.com, Mr. Payne discussed the possibility of F1 Esports going completely mainstream.

He realistically explained that the game can theoretically compete with the most-watched and enjoyed games, such as MOBAs, but that it would be a long, long way to reaching those actual viewership numbers and engagement from the crowds.

It's however this pragmatism that bodes well for the future of competitive Formula 1, even if it's an esports.

Can F1 Esports Be Equated to the Real Thing?

Even Mr. Payne will tell you that playing these F1 simulators is a really demanding activity that often takes as much body strength as being an actual athlete. Recently, 23-year-old Enzo Bonito beat Lucas di Grassi managed to quickly dispatch a formula F1 champion, showing the world that it can be done, and most importantly – proving Mr. Payne right.

The similarities between esports F1 and the real sport are uncannily self-evident. This is good news for everyone though. Esports businesses will see even more reasons to invest in competitive video gaming whereas car makers can use such simulators to actually adjust their products a little better in future.

It all boils down to being able to test products in SAE and secure conditions without asking pilots to take cars for a spin drive in the initial stages, for example. Who would have guessed that part of being a test pilot or a racer in F1 would mean sharing a love for gaming?

Well, moving forward, this may be the case.

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