The 2025 F1 Sim Racing World Championship is set to rev up the virtual racing scene, with all 10 official F1 teams assembling their rosters to compete for the ultimate title. With 30 talented drivers taking part, the competition will span three major events and 12 thrilling rounds of racing action.
Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming season, including the calendar, prize pool, and more!
What is the F1 Sim Racing World Championship?
The F1 Sim Racing World Championship is the premier esports competition for F1, based on the F1 game franchise developed by Codemasters and published by EA Sports. It serves as a bridge between real-world Formula 1 and the virtual racing community, bringing more engagement to fans during the F1 offseason.
The 2025 season will mark the eighth year of this high-stakes competition, with teams competing in F1 24. The event has quickly become a key part of the F1 esports calendar, with the best drivers in the world facing off for both individual glory and team success.
In 2023/24, the Driver Championship was claimed by Frederik Rasmussen of Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing, who triumphed over Thomas Ronhaar from Kick F1 Sim Racing Team in a nail-biting final round. Meanwhile, Scuderia Ferrari Esports secured the World Constructors’ Championship title.
Event Calendar and Schedule
The 2025 F1 Sim Racing World Championship kicks off on January 14, with the first event taking place at Melbourne’s Albert Park Street Circuit, featuring a 29-lap race. The initial four races will run over three days, followed by two more events across two separate windows:
- Event 1: January 14–16, 2025
- Event 2: February 12–14, 2025
- Event 3: March 25–27, 2025
The events will be broadcast live across the official F1 YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook channels, alongside F1’s dedicated Esports social media platforms. Fans can expect intense action and exciting moments as drivers compete for a share of the prize pool.
Prize Pool and Competition Format
The prize pool for the 2025 F1 Sim Racing World Championship has been set at a substantial $750,000 (~£615,513), which will be distributed across the 30 drivers and teams. With three drivers per team, there is plenty of incentive for the teams to push the limits of their abilities and take the crown.
The competition will be divided into three major events and 12 rounds, providing ample opportunities for drivers to showcase their skills and battle it out for the top positions.
The Rise and Fall of F1 Esports
The F1 esports scene has had its ups and downs in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic allowed the competition to reach new heights, with the F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix Series Vietnam attracting over 400,000 peak viewers in 2020.
However, the momentum didn’t last, as F1 esports struggled to maintain the same level of engagement in the following seasons. In the wake of organizational changes and race cancellations in 2023, the F1 Sim Racing World Championship entered a period of uncertainty.
Despite these challenges, the scene is still alive and well, with Event Two in April 2024 drawing a peak viewership of 42,877, according to Esports Charts, signaling that there’s still a dedicated community supporting F1 esports.
Conclusion
The 2025 F1 Sim Racing World Championship is shaping up to be an exciting season, with a rich calendar of events, a massive prize pool, and an engaged fanbase. Fans of the virtual F1 racing world can look forward to some thrilling competition as the world’s best sim racers battle it out on the virtual circuits.
Don’t miss the action as it kicks off on January 14, 2025!
F1 Sim Racing World Championship Returns with Packed Schedule