Jenson Button shares his view on how sim racing enhances racecraft in this week’s Sim Racing Roundup, along with insights into sim racing’s cognitive benefits and more.
From Sim Racing to the Real Thing
Karting and Sim Racing: Jenson Button’s Advice for Getting Started in Motorsport
In the latest edition of Santander’s Driving Tomorrow series Jenson Button offers advice for prospective talents and discusses how F1 drivers of the future might get their start in racing.
“I think gaming is an interesting one,” Button says. “The reason being they’re a lot cheaper than karting. When I raced, karting was reasonable and now it’s very expensive, even just racing on a weekend; I’ve done a couple of kart races over the last few years and it’s expensive. [Simulators] are a lot more cost effective and you can really hone your skills. You can’t drive a go kart 24/7, whereas a simulator, you can if you really wanted to! You can do a lot of the engineering side of things as well with the detail of the simulations.”
Toyota Title Deal With Haas Focused on Simulator
Ayao Komatsu has described the TGR Haas F1 Team’s expanded relationship with Toyota as fundamentally different from a traditional title partnership. “We’re doing a simulator project together with Toyota. With our setup, without this collaboration, it wouldn’t have been possible.”
The Cognitive Benefits of Simulator Racing
Jim Leo from PitFit has written an article explaining the cognitive benefits of sim racing. “Cognitive gains occur when training is deliberate, progressive, and targeted—not simply because a simulator is being used.”
Drive Lounge Performance Launches to Redefine SIM Racing Performance
Drive Lounge, Formula to Perform, and Peritia today announce the creation of Drive Lounge Performance, a new joint venture designed to elevate SIM racing performance through a unique, holistic approach that blends elite motorsport expertise with human performance science and engineering.
Drive Lounge Performance brings together three specialist organizations with a shared vision: to support SIM racers at every level with the same performance tools, methodologies, and mindset used in real-world motorsport. The new venture will deliver an integrated range of services including physical preparation, nutritional recommendations, recovery strategies, and cognitive performance, alongside race craft coaching, technical insight and advanced performance analysis tailored specifically for SIM racing.
More details can be found here.
Kimi Antonelli Identifies 2026 F1 Simulator Anomaly After ‘Real Life’ Shakedown
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has revealed the new Formula 1 regulations have caused a lack of synergy between the simulator and the car, having taken part in last week’s Barcelona shakedown.
“Actually, the car, once I went on track for the first time, felt quite a bit better than how I felt on the sim. But, of course, now on the sim, we’re doing a lot of work, especially after Barcelona, trying to correlate it, you know, coming with a fresh mind, fresh memory from the actual car.”
Your 2026 Blueprint: Build Your Own Simulation Program With Virtex
As a new season begins, priorities tend to focus on outcomes. Better results. More performance. Fewer compromises.
But in motorsport, outcomes are built long before the first green light. They’re shaped by preparation. In 2026, simulation is no longer an all-or-nothing investment. It can start small, be explored intelligently, and grow into a structured program over time.
To support this, Virtex is also evolving. While GT and single-seater racing remain our core, we are introducing a new level of scalability for 2026. Teams entering Hypercar and LMP categories can now scale their simulation programs progressively, leveraging existing foundations rather than starting from scratch.
More details on the program can be found here.
I Was Valued At $1,000,000 for F2 Here are 11 Reasons Why Sim Racing is Better
My take on sim racing as someone who has been involved in the real thing. I think people don’t give sim racing the credit it deserves. If you want to learn more about my coaching & IRL career go to:
Competitive Sim Racing News
Porsche Esports Carrera Cup North America and More
Sim Racing Tips & Techniques
Ruthless Racing Decisions are Made Before You Even Hit the Track
Terence Dove continues his Racing Lab Series with Part 5. “What is transferable to real racing is that your live decision making on making moves has to be fast and clear.”
Sim Racing Tech Roundup
Fanatec Slashes Direct Drive Wheelbase Prices and More Sim Racing Tech
General Sim Racing News
Fun Cup Comes to Assetto Corsa and More
