F1 Sim Racing is set to return this month, with the first three rounds kicking off at the DreamHack Birmingham expo.
- F1 Sim Racing returns for 2026 at the NEC Birmingham as part of DreamHack
- Nine F1 teams represented
- Red Bull’s Jarno Opmeer returns as defending champion
The Formula 1 Sim Racing World Championship (commonly known as F1 Esports or F1 Sim Racing) has announced it will return next month.
The first three races of the season are set to form part of DreamHack Birmingham’s lineup of events between the 27th and 29th March, as the giant esports and gaming expo makes its UK debut.
The top sim racers on the planet will tackle the first round at China’s Shanghai International Circuit, followed by the Japanese and Bahraini Grand Prix from Suzuka and the Sakhir International Circuit, respectively. Races will be scaled to 50% distance and feature standard F1-style qualifying sessions.
The 2026 season will see nine officially affiliated F1 esports teams battle it out over 12 rounds to try and win a share of a $750k prize pool, with every race broadcast live on F1’s YouTube, Twitch and Facebook channels.
DreamHack Birmingham
DreamHack will take place at Birmingham’s NEC and will include Esports World Cup qualifiers for titles such as Trackmania, Street Fighter VI, and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, as well as several appearances by famous streamers and gaming personalities.
Other games, like Call of Duty and Fortnite, will also be represented, with up to 50,000 spectators predicted to attend over the weekend.
New venues
Although the F1 Sim Racing series kicks off in Birmingham, for the following three events it will take place at F1’s purpose-built Media and Technology Centre in Biggin Hill.
The new facility appears to send a strong message that F1 takes sim racing seriously, after experiencing decidedly shaky starts to the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
“Our investment in a purpose-built sim racing facility at the Media and Technology Centre reinforces our long-term commitment to F1 Sim Racing and provides a permanent home for the Championship’s future growth,” stated Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer of Formula 1.
“The return of the F1 Sim Racing World Championship in 2026 marks an exciting chapter for the sport with a season-opening event at DreamHack – one of the biggest gaming festivals in the world,” she continued.
Confirmed teams and drivers
Every F1 team, with the exception of Cadillac and Audi, is set to compete, and all will be gunning for defending Drivers’ champion Jarno Opmeer and his Manufacturers’ title-winning outfit, Red Bull Sim Racing.
Once again, Opmeer will be partnered with Frederik Rasmussen as Sebastian Job arrives as the team’s third driver. Aston Martin has revealed it has signed Duncan Hofland, Jan Haladej and Rubén Pedreño for 2026, while McLaren has announced Alfie Butcher, Wilson Hughes and Jake Benham.
Other teams have yet to confirm their driver lineups ahead of the new season, but the series will surprisingly be without the talents of former champion Lucas Blakeley, who posted on social media to confirm his absence.
Formula 1 Sim Racing World Championship 2026 calendar
Event 1, Rounds 1-3, 27th-29th March 2026
- DreamHack, Birmingham NEC
Event 2, Rounds 4-6, 22nd-23rd April 2026
- F1 Media and Technology Centre, Biggin Hill
Event 3, Rounds 7-9, 13th-14th May 2026
- F1 Media and Technology Centre, Biggin Hill
Event 4, Rounds 10-12, 27th-28th May 2026
- F1 Media and Technology Centre, Biggin Hill