Formula 1 has launched a new F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix series in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with several current F1 drivers featured.

“The virtual races will run in place of every postponed Grand Prix, starting this weekend with the Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday March 22,” says the announcement.

“Every subsequent race weekend will see the postponed real-world Formula 1 race replaced with a Virtual Grand Prix*, with the initiative currently scheduled to run until May**.”

The series will use Codemaster’s F1 2019 game and will be broadcast on the official Formula 1 YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook channels. Formula 1 emphasized that this is “strictly for entertainment purposes”, so don’t worry if your favourite driver does poorly in the game.

Formula 1 also said that they will host online exhibition races, where fans can have the chance to compete against F1 drivers. So if you’ve ever dreamed of racing against actual F1 drivers, you now have a shot to do so, virtually.

Out of all the “going online because of COVID-19” news, this is probably the most interesting one yet. I wonder if we’ll see basketball and football matches go online too. Strictly for entertainment purposes, of course.