F1 Simulators And Motor Esports – Are They The Future Of Formula One?

I was recently looking at some of the most iconic F1 races from the past 25 years, and some of my favourites were the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix, the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix, and the 1971 Italy Grand Prix.

One thing I noticed more than anything else while watching these races was how much older the drivers were back then compared to the average age of the drivers from the past five or so years.

I’ve noticed a significant generational shift in the past two decades, where the drivers seem to be getting younger.

I did a little bit of digging into why this might be, and I discovered that the main reason why there are so many younger drivers these days is because of the F1 simulators and professional Motor Esports events people today have access to.

The current simulator technology I saw them using enables them to become better drivers at a much younger age.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at how F1 simulators and Esports competitions are helping to shape the future of Formula 1.

What are F1 simulators?

F1 simulators are modern technological marvels that replicate the experience of F1 racing in the closest way possible. Today’s high-end F1 simulators are built by expert teams of researchers and mechanics and made in the shape of F1 cars (the front only), from the cockpit to the chassis, which drivers can sit in. 

They are made using official computer-aided design (CAD) software to create the most authentic experience, and some have been specifically designed to train drivers as if they are racing an actual F1 car.

They have come a long way in the past few decades and are now a major part of how current drivers and the drivers of tomorrow train. I have seen footage of those earlier F1 simulators that drivers used, which were extremely expensive and nowhere near as sophisticated as today’s simulators.

Also, those earlier F1 simulators were reserved only for the aspiring drivers who had the best chance of becoming an F1 driver.

Today, anyone can get hold of this highly advanced piece of kit off the internet, recreate an F1 racetrack environment in their living room, and train to be the next Lewis Hamilton.

I was looking at F1 simulators online the other day and found hundreds. They cost anywhere from as little as five hundred dollars (for just the steering wheel and pedals) up to around $100,000 for the more sophisticated F1 simulators shaped like today’s F1 cars.

Thanks to this technology, anyone who wants to be an F1 driver is already way ahead of the curve compared to drivers from 20+ years ago.

You can sit in an F1 simulator at home and pretend you are an F1 driver playing today’s best F1-themed racing titles, such as F123. The digitalisation of games in this way is helping to grow the sport’s profile and bring it to newer and younger audiences.

A similar thing is happening in the iGaming industry. For example, look at the cutting-edge live dealer content currently available on today’s most trusted online casinos with minimum deposit bonuses for newly registered members. The technology ‘transports’ the player into a ‘lifelike’ casino environment complete with a real person dealer.

Market-leading software providers like Evolution and Pragmatic Play, who specialise in crafting unique content for the digital realm, have helped bring the classics like roulette, blackjack, poker, and baccarat to a modern audience and keep these older titles relevant.

Are F1 simulators any good?

I was lucky enough to have a go in an F1 simulator, and I was amazed at how real the experience was. I truly believe this technology alone can help spawn the next generation of talented young drivers more than any other technology.

It has blurred the lines between the real and virtual worlds, much like AR and VR technology is helping bring the digital world to life and making certain blockbuster titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, Call of Duty, and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla more realistic and immersive than ever.

However, I still think that physically getting out on the track and racing around in a Go Kart is just as critical to a driver’s training, not just being stuck in a simulator. One of the biggest advantages of F1 simulators is that drivers can continue to train even when the weather outside is too wet, foggy, or icy.

How are Motor Esports helping shape the future of F1?

Just like F1 simulators can help with the training, I’ve also noticed how pro-Motor Esports events can help with the competitive side of things.

Instead of racing alone in a simulator, a growing number of officially organised F1 and other motorsports Esports competitions allow budding drivers to race against others in any vehicle, on any racetrack, at any time, where they can win serious bragging rights, trophies, and huge cash prizes.

The two go hand-in-hand and give younger drivers a much better insight into what it takes to become a professional F1 driver.

Formula 1 constantly evolves because leaders in the sport are always willing to embrace new technology to help take it to new heights.

F1 simulators and Esports tournaments can rapidly bring new and inexperienced drivers up to scratch far quicker than traditional F1 training techniques ever could.

These two technological developments are why today’s drivers are so much younger than drivers from the bygone era, and I believe that we will continue to see even younger racing breaking through and making it to the top level more frequently than at any other time in F1 history over the coming years.