F1 teams withdraw from official sim racing competition, future in doubt

The future of Formula 1’s official esports competition, F1 Sim Racing, is uncertain, as Traxion understands that teams have been withdrawing from a planned upcoming season. 

First posted by anonymous X account League_RNews, Traxion has independently verified that select teams have backed out.

“#LRN Exclusive. McLaren and Williams have pulled out of F1 Esports, three other teams are also pulling out (we will update you as to who later on),” reads the post.

“FOM want to sell F1 Esports in it’s [sic] entirety.

“F1 Esports is essentially dead in the water, good riddance.”

It’s a dramatic fall from grace for a once pioneering competition.

F1 working on “something else”

Traxion understands that multiple teams have indeed withdrawn support for the beleaguered series. 

F1 is also believed to be working on ‘something else’ in an attempt to keep virtual racing in its portfolio.

However, FOM has not communicated what that ‘something else’ is to teams. This, in turn, is believed to have contributed to the unrest.

Drawing in large sim racing audiences, the races have historically been broadcast across the sport’s widely followed online channels.

Despite this, F1’s flagship racing game competition has been under fire in recent years. Following a surge in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic, a change in production company from Gfinity to the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) Savvy Games Group in 2022 left teams uneasy.

Contract disputes delayed proceedings, leading to stretched schedules for the 2023/2024 season.

Meanwhile, EA SPORTS repeatedly received criticism of its game from viewers and drivers alike. At times, this led to public spats between drivers and teams concerning the alleged use of game exploits.

The 2026 season, running between March and May, drew an average YouTube viewership of ~205,000 during the races (more than any other sim racing competition), with prize money totalling $750,000. This was despite Audi withdrawing the former Sauber team from the competition, and Cadillac abstaining its entry, resulting in an 18-car grid.

Three of the four rounds were held in a new purpose-built sim area within the F1 Media & Technology Centre on the outskirts of London. Alpine’s Otis Lawrence and Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing were crowned Drivers’ and Teams’ champions respectively after a dramatic and controversial finale.

Traxion has contacted F1 and teams for comment.