This will be entertaining due to the well known driver names BUT not high level by any means:<p>"Due to the wide variety of gaming skill levels amongst the drivers, game settings will be configured in such a way to encourage competitive and entertaining racing. This includes running equal car performance with fixed setups, reduced vehicle damage, and optional anti-lock brakes and traction control for those less familiar with the game."<p>More like a "So You Think You Can Dance" celebrity edition than anything else.<p>A much higher level event which also includes some IRL drivers from multiple series is: The Race All-Star Esports Battle (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a_RV5UY8mk" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a_RV5UY8mk</a>)
Higher level mostly because they race in rFactor2 which is a better simulator than F1 2019 and there are no driver aids. Also because everyone on the grid are long-ish time sim racers, even if some of them also happen to be IRL drivers (Max Verstappen, Felix Rosenqvist, Antonio Felix da Costa, a few others)<p>Here's a good list of motorsports eSports events for the next few days: <a href="https://the-race.com/esports/the-complete-motorsport-esports-schedule/" rel="nofollow">https://the-race.com/esports/the-complete-motorsport-esports...</a>
There's always Marbula 1: <a href="https://youtu.be/55iTYdRDG4s" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/55iTYdRDG4s</a><p>I don't even watch F1 but this has me addicted.
Is the game a good enough simulator? Should real drivers be the best F1 streamers with a good wheel setup?<p>This is really pushing the notion of work from home.
This is a great official move, but there was already a Australia race last weekend with Lando, Max, and some Youtubers like Jimmy Broadbent. Interesting to see who comes out on top in the official versus grassroots virtual racing scene. The unofficial stream used iRacing and F1 2019 which is interesting but that was kind of last minute.<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=872hSgx4HUc" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=872hSgx4HUc</a><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0oSqJsh0DA" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0oSqJsh0DA</a>
I watched the virtual races and without damage or real marshalling they just seemed too forgiving of mistakes, and I got bored. Also shorter races = less strategy choices. Also, Codemasters is not the best simulation, would be a lot cooler if the teams modeled this years cars in a better engine.
This is fun! Obviously not a patch on the real thing, but could still be entertaining, as long as they keep non-real-racers out. The minute you add an esport driver I lose all interest.
Next up in remote work: the Olympics.<p>There's a great tradition of video games in Japan, surely if Formula 1 can do it, they can do it for the Olympics, too?