FORMULA 1 and Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited have announced the launch of India’s first Official F1® Sim Racing Championship.
Held under an agreement that grants Mumbai Falcons the rights to host an official Formula 1® sanctioned sim racing competition, the F1® Sim Racing India Open 2026 will establish a national competitive platform for emerging talent across the country. The Championship is designed to create a structured pathway from virtual competition to professional motorsport, offering young drivers a credible first step into the wider racing ecosystem. This also marks the first time Formula 1® has introduced a programme of this nature, exclusively for India, a media release said.
With e-sports now officially recognised under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, initiatives like the F1® Sim Racing India Open 2026 connect India to the global driver pathway of F1®, tapping into a rapidly growing motorsport ecosystem.
Conducted under an agreement granting Mumbai Falcons the rights to host an official F1-sanctioned sim racing competition in India, the Championship will be played on F1® 25, the official game of the FIA Formula 1® World Championship™, featuring identical circuits, competitive formats, and team liveries as the global series. Registrations are set to commence on 30th April, 2026 on the MFRL App (available on Play Store and Apple Store). Participants will be able to compete via PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox. Online qualifiers in the coming months will lead to city-based simulator rounds, culminating in a national final in Mumbai in November, the release said.
