Sports, like many other industries, has been left reeling by the coronavirus sucker punch. Leagues have been cancelled, and competitions called off or postponed, due to the impact of COVID-19.
Yet we’ve seen a clear trend of traditional sports relying on esports for some relief during this period of crisis. And one sport, in particular, seems uniquely positioned to adapt to the virtual world. I’m talking, of course, about simulation racing, and F1 Esports.
We spoke to Dr. Julian Tan, Formula 1’s Head of Digital Business Initiatives and Esports, to discuss F1 Esports’ meteoric rise to prominence: both as a widely televised and streamed substitute for regular Formula 1 action, and as a standalone entertainment product.