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Full team line-ups and event details announced for 2021 F1® Esports Series Pro Championship presented by Aramco
Ahead of the highly anticipated 2021 F1® Esports Series Pro Championship presented by Aramco, which begins next month, the full driver line-ups and event details were announced in Wednesday’s Preview Show, as teams’ get set to battle it out once again for a piece of the huge $750,000 prize pot – one of the biggest in Esports.
F1® Esports Series’ flagship competition continues to exceed expectation and shatter records along the way with last year’s Pro Series, as it was then called, achieving 10.6m views across TV & digital, as well as a record 291m social impressions and 23.8m video views throughout the campaign. The ever-rising popularity of the competition was even more evident as nearly half a million people attempted to qualify for this year’s championship, an increase of 108% from 2020.
As per the 2020 competition, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, drivers will continue to race from team factories or bespoke Esports facilities, or their own homes, whilst broadcasts will be filmed from the Gfinity Arena in London. Drivers will compete on the official F1® 2021 video game, developed by Codemasters and EA.
Aramco return as the presenting partner of the Pro Championship for a second year, and long-term partners DHL and Fanatec also continue to be a key part of the F1® Esports Series. Fanatec will supply hardware to all drivers for this year’s campaign, as it had done since 2018, while three new drivers will compete in the 2021 season after qualifying through the DHL Time-Trial qualification route, including prominent sim-racer Sebastian Job, who joins Alpha Tauri.
HUGE MOVES ACROSS THE GRID
Since last year’s Championship wrapped up in December, there have been a number of high-profile moves around the grid as two world champions switched allegiances in the off-season. Reigning champion Jarno Opmeer, who secured his first title with Alfa Romeo, has joined Mercedes, filling the spot left by Brendon Leigh. Two-time world champion Leigh, who has been recruited by the FDA, joins the only other drivers champion, David Tonizza.
Reigning teams’ champions Red Bull have retained duo Marcel Kiefer and Frederik Rasmussen, who will both be in contention for a shot at this year’s individual honour, whilst Opmeer’s teammate Dani Bereznay, who helped Alfa Romeo to a second-place finish in the teams’ championship has joined McLaren as they prepare for the new season with a completely new three-driver roster, with last year’s ‘Rookie of the Year’ Dani Moreno also heading to Mercedes.
There will be ten new drivers on this year’s driver line-up, with a third of the grid having been scouted through this year’s Pro Exhibition after qualifying via one of F1® Esports Series’ qualification routes.
Team |
Number |
Driver |
Nationality |
D.O.B |
Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN F1 Esports |
30 |
Simon Weigang |
German |
28/10/1997 |
38 |
Filip Prešnajder |
Slovakian |
27/11/2002 |
|
73 |
Thijmen Schütte |
Dutch |
25/08/2004 |
|
Scuderia AlphaTauri Esports Team |
51 |
Joni Törmälä |
Finnish |
15/08/1996 |
13 |
Sebastian Job |
British |
22/03/2000 |
|
28 |
Dario Iemmulo |
Italian |
28/01/2003 |
|
Alpine Esports Team |
40 |
Nicolas Longuet |
French |
06/08/2002 |
8 |
Fabrizio Donoso |
Chilean |
19/06/1999 |
|
80 |
Patrik Sipos |
Hungarian |
30/04/2003 |
|
Aston Martin Cognizant Esports Team |
88 |
Lucas Blakely |
British |
15/07/2001 |
92 |
Daniele Haddad |
Italian |
12/08/1992 |
|
79 |
Shanaka Clay |
British |
04/02/1999 |
|
FDA Esports Team |
95 |
David Tonizza |
Italian |
14/01/2002 |
72 |
Brendon Leigh |
British |
07/08/1999 |
|
29 |
Domenico Lovece |
Italian |
29/06/2001 |
|
Uralkali Haas F1 Team Esports |
2 |
Cedric Thomé |
German |
26/02/1998 |
15 |
Samuel Libeert |
French |
12/11/1992 |
|
48 |
Matthjs van Erven |
Dutch |
03/03/2003 |
|
McLaren Shadow |
12 |
Daniel Bereznay |
Hungarian |
28/05/2000 |
20 |
Bardia Boroumand |
Iranian |
17/04/2003 |
|
52 |
Josh Idowu |
British |
10/02/2003 |
|
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Esports Team |
34 |
Jarno Opmeer |
Dutch |
11/04/2000 |
26 |
Dani Moreno |
Spanish |
09/01/2001 |
|
94 |
Bono Huis |
Dutch |
04/12/1994 |
|
Red Bull Racing Esports |
24 |
Marcel Kiefer |
German |
24/08/1998 |
19 |
Frederik Rasmussen |
Danish |
18/06/2000 |
|
59 |
Liam Parnell |
German |
05/09/2002 |
|
Williams Esports |
21 |
Álvaro Carretón |
Spanish |
21/07/2001 |
53 |
Michael Romanidis |
Greek |
07/09/2003 |
|
23 |
Alessio Di Capua |
Italian |
10/04/2002 |
TWO CIRCUIT DEBUTS, AND OLD FAVOURITES RETURN
This year’s campaign, the fifth season of the competition, will begin on Wednesday 13 October with the first two races of Event 1, as drivers’ replicate the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship by starting off at the Bahrain International Circuit. Whilst the real-world F1® drivers couldn’t travel to China this year, the Shanghai International Circuit will be brought to life virtually, before the always popular Red Bull Ring rounds off the season-opening Event on the following day.
While most of the chosen venues remain the same as last year, including Zandvoort where F1® returned earlier this month, there are three new tracks for drivers to get to grips with this season. The ‘rollercoaster’ in Portimão makes its debut in the Pro Championships, as does Imola, whilst the Circuit of the Americas returns to the calendar. As has been the case for the past two campaigns, the season finale will see competitors battle it out at Interlagos.
Event # |
Date |
Round # |
Circuit |
Event 1 |
13-14 October |
Round 1 |
Sakhir, Bahrain |
Round 2 |
Shanghai, China |
||
Round 3 |
Spielberg, Austria |
||
Event 2 |
27-28 October |
Round 4 |
Silverstone, Great Britain |
Round 5 |
Monza, Italy |
||
Round 6 |
Spa, Belgium |
||
Event 3 |
24-25 November |
Round 7 |
Portimão, Portugal |
Round 8 |
Zandvoort, Netherlands |
||
Round 9 |
Austin, USA |
||
Event 4 |
15-16 December |
Round 10 |
Imola, Italy |
Round 11 |
Mexico City, Mexico |
||
Round 12 |
Interlagos, Brazil |
EIGHT LIVE SHOWS ACROSS THE SEASON
F1® Esports fans will be happy to hear that following the increased coverage of last year’s Pro Series, the format will remain the same for 2021, where there will be live racing on Wednesday and Thursday of each Event week, as well as livestreamed qualifying sessions on both days. The Pro Championship will be broadcast on the official F1® social channels (Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and Huya), as well as select TV broadcast partners.
Ben Pincus, Director of Commercial Partnerships at Formula 1®, said:
“There’s huge excitement building ahead of the new season of the F1 Esports Series Pro Championship, and we can’t wait to get started, and with so many big moves around the grid, this year’s title really is anyone’s for the taking! As always, we want to thank our partners Aramco, DHL and Fanatec for their continued support which enables us to bring elite sim-racing to fans around the world.”
Paul Jeal, F1 Senior Franchise Director at Codemasters, said:
“The 2021 F1 Esports Series Pro Championship promises to be the most exciting and unpredictable season to date. There have been some exciting driver moves with former double F1 Esports Champion Brendon Leigh joining another ex-champion David Tonizza at Ferrari, and our current F1 Esports Champion Jarno Opmeer moving to Mercedes. We also welcome new exciting talent from the Challengers, and it will be fascinating to see how Alessio Di Capua and Josh Idowu compete on the biggest stage. On behalf of the F1 team at Codemasters and all our players worldwide, good luck to the 2021 drivers. Let the racing begin.”
John Clarke, CEO at Gfinity, said:
“Anticipation is building for the new season of the F1 Esports Series Pro Championship presented by Aramco. It has become a must watch competition for both existing, and an ever-growing army of new, virtual racing fans. The bar is raised each year with new talent emerging and spectacular racing. The Gfinity production team will also be raising the bar with more storytelling and high-octane coverage of the races. It’s time to sit back and enjoy the show!”

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Hipther and MSG Global Launch Strategic Collaboration Rooted in Shared Vision and Trust
HIPTHER, a leading event organizer and media agency shaping the Gaming and Tech industries in Europe and beyond, is proud to announce a new strategic collaboration with MSG Global Ltd., a premier consultancy specializing in the gambling sector.
This collaboration reflects a mutual respect and long-standing personal rapport, grounded in a shared commitment to integrity, innovation, and advancing meaningful conversations within the industry. It aims to open new avenues for knowledge exchange, professional networking, and value-driven engagement across key verticals.
HIPTHER’s Co-Founder, Zoltan Tuendik, stated about the partnership: “We’ve known the founders of the MSG Global team for years. Not just as respected professionals, but as people who understand that trust and long-term thinking still matter in this industry. This collaboration is a natural next step in building something valuable and future-facing together.”
MSG Global brings over 20 years of experience in strategic planning, regulatory compliance, global network access, digital transformation, and sales growth within the gambling industry.
“We focus on partnerships that go beyond transactions. HIPTHER understands our culture, our high standards, and our mission to engage effectively in key markets. Together, we’ll shape more meaningful agendas and drive stronger impact.” — the representative of MSG Global Ltd. commented
Together, HIPTHER and MSG Global look forward to exploring synergies that enrich their respective networks and support the growth of responsible, future-focused leadership across the gambling and tech sectors.
The post Hipther and MSG Global Launch Strategic Collaboration Rooted in Shared Vision and Trust appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Stable Capital launch a financial advice service specifically tailored to the racing community
Falling into cash flow problems can feel like it came out of nowhere but this is rarely the case. Spotting trends in cash flow from previous years can help identify the high and low periods.
Stable Capital helps trainers identify these lows and provide short/medium term funding that can be accessed quickly to iron out the lows and keep business running smoothly.
Every stable is different so packages are built based on the needs of the client. Crucially, interest is only paid for time period the funds are borrowed and there are no additional fees.
Having a line of credit running alongside any business also helps speedy access to allow for essential purchases like new equipment or facilities, which often are best done at a time of slow cash flow. For example, a jumps trainer in, say, August may not be reeling in the training fees at that time but needs to upgrade facilities in the yard during this slower period.
Stable Capital, the brainchild of Ben Newton & Philip Jackson who are both long-term owners and, therefore, fully understand the mental and financial pressure of running what is, in essence, an entirely results focused business.
Racing Consultant, Harry Dunlop explains the concept: “Even the biggest optimist can see that UK horseracing is not in good health. We are open to all of the industry in treacherous times for a sport that needs support and advice…right now. I have had been through exactly this issue and so we are here for anybody in the industry that needs some short-term help.”
Philip adds: “Seasonal businesses like training need to be handled completely differently from a normal cashflow management scheme. Stable Capital are, essentially, racing fans who understand the industry. We have been open for business for about a year now and initially we kept the business under wraps but demand is now at such a point that we need to let racing industry folk know that we are here. We 100% in the mindful business and first & foremost racing fans…this is a tough industry and we are a lot more than a band aid when cash flow becomes an issue.”
The post Stable Capital launch a financial advice service specifically tailored to the racing community appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Logifuture enters high-growth Croatian market with Mozzart partnership
Leading South-Eastern Europe operator integrates virtual product Simulate
Logifuture, an award-winning supplier of iGaming products, has expanded its partnership with leading South-Eastern Europe operator Mozzart to launch its Simulate virtual product in Croatia. This latest rollout follows the success of the same product in Serbia and Kenya, where the collaboration between the two companies has already delivered strong results.
Simulate delivers an entirely new level of engagement – something players have never seen before. It adds instant fun to the betting experience, allowing users to simulate the outcome of their betslip in just a few seconds, using real teams, real events, and real markets. No waiting for matches to start. No delays. Just instant action and instant payouts, bringing an extra layer of excitement that enhances the classic sportsbook experience.
Croatia represents a key growth market for both Mozzart and Logifuture, with its rapidly expanding online gaming sector offering a dynamic opportunity to engage a new and diverse audience.
‘Fast, immersive experiences’
Niccolo Cassettari, Chief Business Development Officer at Logifuture, said: “We’re proud to partner with Mozzartbet Croatia to launch Simulate, our next-gen football game designed for players who crave fast, immersive experiences. The Croatian market has a strong appetite for innovative sports content, and Simulate delivers exactly that – real match scenarios, rapid gameplay, and a format that keeps users engaged round after round.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of virtual sports. For Logifuture, it’s about more than just adding another game to the portfolio – it’s about enhancing Mozzartbet’s user offering with something genuinely different. We’re confident Simulate will quickly resonate with their audience and drive both engagement and retention.”
Katarina Masal, Virtual Games Sector Manager at Mozzartbet Group, said: “At Mozzartbet, our commitment has always been to deliver exceptional gaming experiences to our players.
“The positive response we saw with Simulate in other markets made it an easy choice to expand this partnership into another exciting market for us.
“We’re excited to introduce Simulate and eager to offer our Croatian players an engaging and immersive gaming experience.”
The post Logifuture enters high-growth Croatian market with Mozzart partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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