This Sunday should have been the date of the first ever Vietnam GP, but as the Hanoi track does not exist on the Codemasters F1 2019 game, the australian venue is being used, with the event being live streamed for all fans of racing and gaming to enjoy. As was the case in the first event a fortnight ago, all competitors are taking part remotely, using their own set ups at home.
The event will be transmitted from London’s Gfinity Arena and to watch, you just need to return to this page at 21:00 CEST on Sunday 5 April.

Driving our cars will be Luca Salvadori and NU89. The former is an Italian professional motorcycle racer and youtuber, who already drove for us in the first of these races at Bahrain’s Sakhir track, when he finished a strong seventh. NU89, which sounds like a robot name from the late Eighties is actually the nickname of Nunzio Todisco, a gamer and youtuber, with a large on-line following who loves motor sport and sim racing.

After a short qualifying session, to decide grid positions, the lights will go out at 21:10 to signal the start of the 28 lap race. The cars run with identical performance levels and set up and, to help those less familiar with videogames, driver aids such as anti-lock brakes and traction control can be used.

The Virtual GP is only the start of the evening’s entertainment. Immediately after that first race, it will be time for our professional sim racers to step up, those who compete in the official F1 Esports World Championship. They too will use the Albert Park track. Representing us in this Pro Race will be Patrik Holzmann, in his third consecutive year with our Esports Team and his new team-mate, Marcel Kiefer, who recently joined the Red Bull Racing Esports programme.