Formula One Launches Esports Competition

20 Aug 2017 | tshego

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Formula One, game developer Codemasters, and Gfinity have announced a partnership to launch the Formula One Esports Series.

The inaugural season will kick off in September to coincide with the launch of the F1 2017 game, with a qualification system running through the month to determine the 40 quickest drivers.

They will be invited to the live semi-finals, which will be held at the Gfinity Arena in London on 10th and 11th October. The Top 20 will qualify for the finals, which will take place as part of the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November.

A three-race event will see the first-ever Formula One Esports world champion crowned on the same weekend as Formula One world champion.

“This launch presents an amazing opportunity for our business: strategically and in the way we engage fans,” said Sean Bratches, head of commercial at Formula One.

“First, it’s a growing category with tremendous fan engagement that we’re entering in a big way; and we are proud to have Codemasters and Gfinity joining us on this ride.

“Of course, as we do in Formula One, we’ll continue to evolve and innovate in the way we run this virtual counterpart to the Formula One Championship to ensure we provide the most exciting and enjoyable experience we can for our fans.”