Virtual GP of Monaco: Russell winner, simracing loses

Driving in the streets of the Principality, whether in reality or in a video game, is a demanding art that requires talent and precision. It's a shame that the virtual counterpart of the legendary Monaco Grand Prix organized by Liberty Media last Sunday turned into a total upheaval.

A situation all the more regrettable as we had pulled out all the stops to cover the event: broadcast of the race on Canal+ channels with its usual team of journalists and commentators, and duplex with the Workshop Renault where Esteban Ocon was going to defend the chances of the French manufacturer for the first time since the launch of the Virtual Grands Prix.

 @OconEsteban : “As soon as there are 4 wheels, engines and a checkered flag, we all want to come first! »

 Follow the races F1 et F2 du #MonacoGP virtual at the moment, live on CANAL+SPORT  https://t.co/Ar2Qld9N9B pic.twitter.com/kLR0r7ppZB

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) May 24, 2020

Valtteri Bottas was also there at Mercedes and brought the number of 8 starters present on the virtual grid to 2020, a record. A set as exotic as ever since there were also footballers (Thibaut Courtois, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang) who were definitely keen on simracing, and even Luis Fonsi, a Puerto Rican singer who made a splash a few years ago with the hit Slowly.

The first hiccup occurred even before the start since Ocon was unable to participate in the event due to a technical problem.

After a qualifying session contested in the rain and concluded with a nice pole position for the reservist Haas Pietro Fittipaldi, the race took place in the dry but it quickly turned sour. Author of a great takeoff from the front row, George Russell, already winner in Barcelona, ​​took the lead at Ste Dévote and never looked behind him again. It was better not given the sad spectacle presented at times.

This is the whole problem with simracing when the damage is not activated and the participants take things a little too lightly. The Grand Prix sometimes had the feel of stock car racing, with a special mention for Lando Norris, author of a kamikaze maneuver on Arthur Leclerc while braking at Ste Dévote.

Lando The Leclerc bros#VirtualGP #RaceAtHome pic.twitter.com/p7qYFFCGU7

- Formula 1 (@ F1) May 24, 2020

The Briton, who nevertheless spends his life on his simulator and is therefore not a beginner, pushed the vice to the point of repeating word for word the excuses put forward by simon pagenaud when the latter had pestered the pilot McLaren during a previous round IndyCar online. We are still waiting for the outraged cries of the outraged 2.0 who had pilloried the Frenchman. 

All this gave the impression of a happy mess, to the great dismay of simracing pros who can legitimately consider themselves wronged after this race, they who took years to get the idea that e-sport was accepted. a discipline in its own right which deserved our full attention.