Formula 1 has officially announced the return of the F1 Sim Racing World Championship for 2026. The season kicks off at DreamHack Birmingham from 27 to 29 March, before shifting to a brand new dedicated facility for the rest of the year.
Here is everything we know so far about the format, teams, broadcast plans, and prize pool.
DreamHack Birmingham hosts the season opener
The 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship will begin at DreamHack Birmingham, held at the NEC in Birmingham. This is the first time DreamHack has come to the United Kingdom, and the three-day event is expected to draw around 50,000 gaming fans.
The opening round will feature racing on the Shanghai International Circuit. A dedicated F1 Sim Racing Fanzone will also be set up at the venue, with activations from several F1 teams. Fans at the event will get a chance to see the simulators up close, interact with the sim racing drivers, and explore the paddock area.
New purpose-built facility at Biggin Hill
After the DreamHack opener, the remaining three events of the season will take place at Formula 1’s Media and Technology Centre in Biggin Hill. F1 has invested significantly in a new multi-purpose studio facility at this location specifically for sim racing.
The facility is designed to give teams and drivers a proper performance environment while keeping the sim racing championship physically connected to F1’s broader operations.
Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer of Formula 1, confirmed that the investment is part of a long-term commitment to the championship. She noted that the Biggin Hill facility will serve as a permanent home for the competition going forward.
Nine teams, three drivers each
Nine F1 teams will compete in the 2026 season: Alpine, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Haas, McLaren, Mercedes, Racing Bulls, Red Bull, and Williams. Each team will field a roster of three esports drivers, with two selected to race at every round.
Format and prize pool
The season spans 12 events in total. Each event will include qualifying sessions and races run at 50% distance. Points from every round count toward both a Drivers’ Championship and a Teams’ Championship.
The total prize pool for the 2026 season is $750,000.
Where to watch
All 12 rounds of the F1 Sim Racing World Championship will be broadcast live on Formula 1’s official YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook channels. No separate subscription or platform is required.
F1’s push into the gaming audience
The DreamHack partnership is part of Formula 1’s ongoing effort to reach audiences outside of traditional race weekends. Prazer pointed out that esports gives the sport a way to connect with younger fans and offer them new ways to engage with F1 and its teams.
DreamHack has been expanding its global footprint throughout 2026, with events like DreamHack Atlanta also hosting major esports tournaments including IEM and Call of Duty League. The Birmingham event marks DreamHack’s first stop in the UK, adding another market to the ESL FACEIT Group’s growing calendar.
Niccolo Maisto, CEO of ESL FACEIT Group (which runs DreamHack), said the event brings together motorsport and the UK gaming community. He added that attendees will get to watch the championship’s drivers compete live on stage.
Key dates at a glance
The season opens at DreamHack Birmingham on 27 to 29 March 2026. Three more events follow at the Biggin Hill facility, with exact dates for those rounds yet to be confirmed publicly.
