Sergio Perez and Pierre Gasly will become the latest real-world 2020 Formula 1 drivers to make their debut in F1’s Virtual Grand Prix as the series takes to the streets of Baku on Sunday.
Racing Point driver Perez and AlphaTauri man Gasly will bring the number of current F1 drivers to have contested a Virtual GP to 11.
They will be joined by a pair of debutants from the footballing world, as well as a Dakar winner, while the event will also retain its roster of regulars in Williams pair George Russell and Nicholas Latifi, Red Bull’s Alex Albon, Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi, McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Albon will be partnered at Red Bull by Mathias Walkner, a rider for the Red Bull-backed KTM factory rally-raid team who won the prestigious Dakar Rally back in 2018.
Renault will line up with one of its juniors, F3 racer and Mark Webber protege Oscar Piastri, as well as a newcomer in elite Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte.
The other rookie from the world of football is Gianluigi Donnarumma, who will partner Gasly at AlphaTauri.
Donnarumma is the goalkeeper for the Italian national team and AC Milan, which has already had one of its players – captain Alessio Romagnoli – contest a Virtual Grand Prix earlier this year.
The footballer ranks will also be reinforced by Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtous, with the avid F1 2019 player continuing to represent Alfa Romeo.
With the 2020 F1 season now due to begin on July 5 in Austria, the Virtual GP series is set to conclude with the Azerbaijan and Canada races taking place over the next two weekends.
