FORMULA ONE is back for another round of virtual racing as players prepare to take on the Australian Grand Prix.
Renault’s academy driver Guanyu Zhou took top spot on the podium in Bahrain two weeks ago, seeing off a number of F1 drivers past and present.
Guanyu Zhou took the virtual trophy in Bahrain
Charles Leclerc will be driving for Ferrari while Lando Norris returns for McLaren, while England cricket star Ben Stokes will also be in the hotseat.
When is F1 Australian Virtual Grand Prix?
The second race of the series will take place on Sunday, April 5.
Lights out for the race will be at 8pm UK time.
Drivers will be speeding around the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne.
The inaugural Vietnam GP was due to be this weekend, but as the circuit is not on the F1 2019 video game, it has been replaced with Australia – which had its real-life race cancelled due to coronavirus.
What TV channel is it on and can I live stream it for FREE?
The race will be streamed live for FREE on a range of platforms including through F1’s official YouTube channel.
They will also broadcast on their Twitch and Facebook pages, while you can also watch the 90-minute show on F1.com.
The Virtual Grand Prix will also be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Mix (Sky channel 145).
What are the rules?
The race will take place using the F1 2019 game, with grid positions will be decided by the fastest lap times in qualifying.
Following that will be the race where it will be held at 50% of a normal Grand Prix.
That means there will be 28 laps, instead of the normal 56.
Real life drivers will be used on the game, so Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari will lock horns once again.
And before teams get excited, the race will not count towards the actual World Championship standings.
Lando Norris got off on the wrong foot with sim racer Jimmy Broadbent
Betway: F1 virtual Aus GP odds
Lando Norris – 6/4
Stoffel Vandoorne – 9/2
Alex Albon – 8/1
Nicholas Latifi – 8/1
Charles Leclerc – 10/1
George Russell – 10/1
Ben Stokes 25/1
- Betway: Get up to £30 in free bets HERE
Who are the drivers?
Lando Norris and Nicholas Lafiti will both be back in the driver’s seat for the second race.
They will be joined by fellow current F1 stars Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Alex Albon.
Former Formula One stars Johnny Herbert, Anthony Davidson, and Jenson Button will also return, with England Cricket star Ben Stokes among the celebrities to join.
The line up is not complete yet, but expect more big names after cycling legend Chris Hoy and former One Direction star Liam Payne taking part for the Bahrain GP.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
