Bahrain Virtual Grand Prix result: Guanyu Zhou wins inaugural F1 eSports race cut short by technical problems
Inaugural Virtual Grand Prix had to be cut in half due to technical issues but provides plenty of drama as F2 prospect makes history with online victory
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Your support makes all the difference.Guangu Zhou made history by winning the first Formula One Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix on a chaotic and technically-challenging night, as live motorsport returned to screens amid the coronavirus crisis.
Teething issues with the event could not mask the fact that F1 was attempting to bring a bit of light relief at a hugely difficult time, with the outbreak of Covid-19 currently sweeping the world and causing nearly all sport to be cancelled due to health concerns.
As a result, F1 have committed to running a Virtual Grand Prix each race weekend, with the first taking place at the Bahrain International Circuit. Unfortunately, the short-notice left many F1 stars unable to compete, leaving only Lando Norris and Nicholas Latifi as the only current drivers on the grid. But they were made up with a host of famous names, with former drivers Nico Hulkenberg, Stoffel Vandoorne, Anthony Davidson and Johnny Herbert all competing, while the more well-known names from outside of the sport featured Olympian Sir Chris Hoy and former One Direction star Liam Payne.
However, a lengthy delay that saw Norris unable to take part in qualifying meant that the race was cut to 25 per cent distance, leaving a 14-lap shootout rather than the 28-lap scheduled Grand Prix, and the technical gremlins returned when the current McLaren star was booted out of the race on the formation lap.
A lightning start from Herbert resulted in a 10-second time penalty as he cut the first corner to take the lead, but the veteran could not hold on as Philip Eng and Zhou quickly passed him to battle for the lead. Zhou elected to pit early, and utilised the undercut to take a healthy lead when the stops cycled through, leading by more than nine second and take the chequered flag. Eng lost second place on the penultimate lap to a charging Vandoorne, and although Norris was able to make a late charge when he reconnected to the session, his hopes of salvaging fourth ended in a collision with Jimmy Broadbent at the final corner, leaving him down in fifth.
The series will return in two weeks' time, with F1 set to announce a random venue to replace the postponed Vietnamese Grand Prix.
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Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix
Johnny Herbert's first qualifying run ends in trouble as he spins off at the penultimate corner and smashes through a advertising hoarding, ripping off the front ring in the process.
Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix
New pole-sitter alert! Gutierrez sets a 1:28.2 to usurp Gutierrez, only for Eng to get him back immediately and take back pole position with a 1:28.0-flat.
Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix
Sadly both Lando Norris and Jimmy Broadbent - two of the more experienced eSport gamers - have both been disconnected from the race. The good news is that while they'll start on the back row of the grid, they'll provide plenty of entertainment coming through the field.
Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix
The chequered flag flies and Gutierrez can't improve enough to overtake Eng, meaning the German will be on pole ahead of the former F1 driver as he improves with his own final lap to dip into the 1:27s. Nico Hulkenberg sneaks into third, with Luca Salvadori in fourth.
Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix
1. Philipp Eng
2. Esteban Gutierrez
3. Guangyu Zhou
4. Nicolas Latifi
5. Nico Hulkenberg
6. Luca Salvadori
7. Dino Beganovic
8. Robert Scwartzman
9. Sadokist
10. Paul Chaloner
Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix
So we're 10 minutes over the expected start time, as their seems to be a fair few technical issues.
Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix
With Lando Norris currently locked out of the session, he's using his time wisely by getting Max Verstappen on the phone for some last-minute tips. "Send it" seemed to be the message from the Red Bull star.
Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix
Half an hour later...we have take off! Formation lap is underway.
Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix
LIGHTS OUT! The Bahrain Grand Prix is underway! The race distance has been cut in half though, meaning it's now a 14-lap race.
Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix
It's a chaotic start, there's cars everywhere on the start line, as Johnny Herbert cuts the first corner and takes the lead, albeit with a 10-second penalty. There's another huge crash on the run to turn four, and by Turn 11 there's only eight cars left who haven't crashed.
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