Alpine Sim Racing’s Otis Lawrence is 2026’s F1 Sim Racing Drivers’ champion
Red Bull Sim Racing clinches its fourth Teams’ title
Alpine Sim Racing’s Otis Lawrence is the 2026 F1 Sim Racing Drivers’ champion.
The Welshman held off a stiff challenge from Ferrari Esports’ Ismael Fahssi in the final laps of the season to claim top honours by just two points.
To further complicate matters, Lawrence was hit by a one-second time penalty due to a clash with Fahssi earlier in the race.
The controversial moment where Lawrence (outside) was adjudged to have squeezed Fahssi (inside)
On lap 18, Lawrence had squeezed Fahssi as the duo diced for ninth position, with the latter pulling off a sensational recovery drive to claim his third victory in a row, despite receiving his own three-second penalty.
Lawrence’s penalty arrived on the last lap of the Yas Marina decider, and he finished fifth on the road. However, he was tailed by Aston Martin’s Duncan Hofland, who was under a second behind. If the penalty stood, Fahssi was champion.
Amid confusing post-race scenes at F1 Sim Racing’s bold new Biggin Hill headquarters, both drivers faced an agonising wait of over 30 minutes to hear the stewards’ final decision, with Lawrence ultimately emerging as champion.
Red Bull claims another team title
By comparison, Red Bull Sim Racing’s path to the Teams’ title was much less fraught, even if the final gap to Alpine was a mere three points.
Last year’s Drivers’ champion Jarno Opmeer made an effective defence of his third position on the final lap to hold off the fresh-tyred Nicolas Longuet behind, with the Dutchman under severe pressure due to the earlier retirement of teammate Frede Rasmussen.
Jarno Opmeer (L) and Frede Rasmussen (R). Image courtesy of Red Bull Sim Racing
In the end, Opmeer held on to take Red Bull’s second Teams’ title in a row and the squad’s fourth in F1 Sim Racing history, securing third in the Drivers’ standings in the process.
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