How to watch the Formula 1 Virtual Grand Prix: EIGHT pro F1 drivers race today in virtual Monaco

Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix May 24 (virtual)

(Image credit: Formula 1/YouTube)

published 24 May 2020

Formula 1 is changing. Yes, the recent unpleasantness has meant a lack of actual F1 Grand Prix action, but there's also been a huge concurrent growth in interest in Formula 1 Virtual Grands Prix – that is the plural of Grand Prix.

This week – today, Sunday May 24, in fact – there are a record number of pro drivers taking part in the virtual high-speed drive-a-thon. Actual F1 wheelmen Esteban Ocon and Valtteri Bottas will, for the first time, be joining established petrol jockeys Alex Albon, Antonio Giovinazzi, George Russell, Nicholas Latifi, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc.

Come on, I know practically nothing about Formula 1, and even I have heard of Valtteri Bottas.

I've heard of kicky-ball men Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Thibaut Courtois too. The deceptively casual Arsenal ace and Belgian custodian of the sticks also will be ridin' today – so look out for those beauties, oh yeah.

Rounding out the 'celebrity' quota are 'big-wave surfer Kai Lenny' and Latin American singer Luis Fonsi. No, me neither.

Today's race falls on the weekend where millions usually flock to the gaudy Eurotrash seaside hell hole of Monte Carlo, for the Monaco Grand Prix. But this time it will take place in high-powered computers, creating a virtual simulation of the Circuit de Monaco.

Virtual Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix: how it works

Drivers will join the race remotely, using the PC version of Codemasters' official F1 2019 PC video game. In earlier races, the settings for each driver are adjusted so as to level the playing field a bit, with the pros having realistic settings, and the footballers something more like Mario Kart.

The qualifying period and race will be broadcast live via the Formula 1 YouTube, Twitch and Facebook channels, from the Gfinity Esports Arena

What time does the Virtual Monaco Grand Prix start?

The broadcast starts at 4pm BST with a Formula 2 virtual racing event (!)

An 'F1 Esports Pro Exhibition' race will also precede the Virtual Grand Prix, from 5pm BST.

The Formula 1 main event is at 6pm BST.

How to watch the virtual F1 Monaco Grand Prix

The live broadcast will be available on the official Formula 1 YouTube channel. The main race starts at 6pm although you can tune in from 4pm for pre-race shenanigans.

The virtual Grand Prix is also on the official Twitch and Facebook channels, as well as China's Weibo and Huya channels.

If you prefer old-fashioned TV to this new-fangled streaming nonsense, the Virtual Grand Prix will also be shown live via international broadcast partners in over 100 countries. These include:

• UK: Sky Sports

• USA: ESPN,

• South east Asia: FOX Sports Asia

The race is expected to run for 1 hour 30 minutes, with a qualifying period – where grid positions are determined based on the drivers’ fastest lap times – followed by a 39-lap race.

Monaco Grand Prix virtual Formula 1 starting grid: who's driving?

Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN Antonio Giovinazzi, Thibaut Courtois

Scuderia AlphaTauri Tonio Liuzzi, Luca Salvadori

FDA Hublot Esports Team Charles Leclerc, Arthur Leclerc

Haas F1 Team Louis Deletraz, Pietro Fittipaldi

McLaren Racing Lando Norris, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Valtteri Bottas, Esteban Gutierrez

BWT Racing Point David Schumacher, Luis Fonsi

Red Bull Racing Alex Albon, Kai Lenny

Renault Esteban Ocon, Nicolas Prost

ROKiT Williams Racing George Russell, Nicholas Latifi

How to bet on the virtual Grand Prix

In terms of being able to make a considered punt based on analysing form, racing conditions etc, you might as well bet on the National Lottery as on this. If you really must spice up everything you do with a bet, our recommendation today is that you stick to £10 each way, on the favourite.

Gambling responsibly

Any form of gambling comes with risks and you should never gamble with money that you cannot afford to lose. If you suffer from a gambling problem, or suspect somebody you know does, then we strongly suggest that you discuss it with the National Gambling Treatment Service, which offers free, confidential help for anyone who is worried about their or someone else’s gambling.

If you need help, call the national gambling helpline free in the UK on 0808 8020 133 or live chat with a National Gambling Treatment Service adviser now – they're available 24/7 for advice and to help finding the right support.

If you are in the US, then call the National Problem Gambling Hotline on 1-800-522-4700.

Duncan is the former lifestyle editor of T3 and has been writing about tech for almost 15 years. He has covered everything from smartphones to headphones, TV to AC and air fryers to the movies of James Bond and obscure anime. His current brief is everything to do with the home and kitchen, which is good because he is an excellent cook, if he says so himself. He also covers cycling and ebikes – like over-using italics, this is another passion of his. In his long and varied lifestyle-tech career he is one of the few people to have been a fitness editor despite being unfit and a cars editor for not one but two websites, despite being unable to drive. He also has about 400 vacuum cleaners, and is possibly the UK's leading expert on cordless vacuum cleaners, despite being decidedly messy. A cricket fan for over 30 years, he also recently become T3's cricket editor, writing about how to stream obscure T20 tournaments, and turning out some typically no-nonsense opinions on the world's top teams and players.

Before T3, Duncan was a music and film reviewer, worked for a magazine about gambling that employed a surprisingly large number of convicted criminals, and then a magazine called Bizarre that was essentially like a cross between Reddit and DeviantArt, before the invention of the internet. There was also a lengthy period where he essentially wrote all of T3 magazine every month for about 3 years.

A broadcaster, raconteur and public speaker, Duncan used to be on telly loads, but an unfortunate incident put a stop to that, so he now largely contents himself with telling people, "I used to be on the TV, you know."