And here’s why.
First, if you haven’t played any of the more modern PC based racing sims, do yourself a favor: find a local VR rental service or a rich friend and have a go. They are a wonder to experience. iRacing, Assetto Corsa, even PlayStation stalwart Gran Turismo have achieved staggering levels of realism, especially when paired with a VR headset and a good rig with a wheel and pedals. They are less and less like a game with each passing year, and more like a training simulator, much like the kind current F1 drivers use in the off-season.
Second, the Covid pandemic opened the doors to a totally new audience for Formula One: gamers. Drivers Lando Norris, George Russell, Alex Albon and Max Verstappen all participated in Virtual Grand Prix after the first half of the season was canceled, using at-home rigs and gaming headsets. Though some of the drivers initially scoffed at the idea that sim racing could be as competitive as the real thing, several ended up purchasing sim rigs and joining in. F1 is infamous for its inaccessibility and the optics of some of their top talent out playing video games with the plebes can only help its image; and an entirely new, young, curious audience is exposed to the sport at the same time.
Thirdly, F1 needs to diversify, in more ways than one. The purchase by Liberty Media has shaken up the organization to an extent, but it’s still firmly in the old world with its head in the sand on many issues, nevermind the FIA. The support for BLM and the recent push by current world champion Lewis Hamilton to make F1 more accessible are important and worthy steps if a bit late in coming, but the sport has a long way to go in terms of equity. A sim feeder league would be a strong signal that F1 really does want the best drivers in the world, not just the ones that can afford it.