F1 Sim Racing esports competition returns January, $750k prize pool

F1 Sim Racing will be back next year and this time with a confirmed calendar of three events and 12 in-person races.

This follows a tumultuous 2023/24, where one-off rounds, cancellations and mysterious locations blighted the competition.

Formula 1’s sanctioned esports championship will use the EA SPORTS F1 24 game, with each real-world F1 team fielding two drivers.

All 20 competitors will travel to Stockholm, where they will participate in four qualifying sessions and 50 per cent-length races. A $750,000 prize pool will be awarded.

Virtual venues that will be visited include an updated Spa-Francorchamps and Lusail when compared to last season’s running, which used F1 23.

Four West Asian venues will be used, with Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain alongside the aforementioned Qatar. Other venues include Dutch track Zandvoort, Mexico’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez and the Texan Circuit of the Americas – although Miami and Las Vegas miss out.

Frede Rasmussen is the reigning champion, clinching his first crown after finishing second four years in a row.

F1 Sim Racing 2025 schedule

• Event 1 – Race 1 – Australia – 14th January 2025
• Event 1 – Race 2 – China – 15th January 2025
• Event 1 – Race 3 – Bahrain – 15th January 2025
• Event 1 – Race 4 – Saudi Arabia – 15th January 2025
• Event 2 – Race 5 – United Kingdom – 11th February 2025
• Event 2 – Race 6 – Belgium – 12th February 2025
• Event 2 – Race 7 – Netherlands – 12th February 2025
• Event 2 – Race 8 – United States (Austin) – 13th February 2025
• Event 3 – Race 9 – Mexico – 25th March 2025
• Event 3 – Race 10 – Brazil – 26th March 2025
• Event 3 – Race 11 – Qatar – 26th March 2025
• Event 3 – Race 12 – Abu Dhabi – 27th March 2025