An 18-year-old kitchen manager from England has been crowned as the first ever Formula 1 Esports Series World Champion during an event at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Across three virtual races at Montréal, Spa-Francorchamps and Yas Marina, Brendon Leigh out-scored his rivals, capturing the title after a last-lap pass on opponent Fabrizio Donoso Delgado.
The field of 20 competed in a specially-designed garage at the Yas Marina Circuit, with the races broadcast live to the paddock, and online through various social media channels.
“I feel ecstatic,” said Leigh. “It’s one thing to get to the semifinals. Another to get to the finals. Another again is to win and beat 19 drivers.
“It’s unreal to have the luck and also the mindset to be able to keep calm in this situation. Winning here means a huge amount to me. I am the first one to do it. That is special.”
Added Formula 1 commercial chief Sean Bratches: “We are delighted to be holding the eSport Series Final here in Abu Dhabi.
“The finalists have been whittled down from the 60,000 original participants.
“After the London semifinals, we are now down to the 20 very best edrivers on the planet, here in the specially-designed garage in the F1 paddock.
“The attraction to a broad and committed younger generation of F1 and Esport fans is something that we are proud to support and nurture, and we look forward to establishing a season-long series in 2018.”
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