A day in the life of an F1 test and sim driver is just one of the topics covered in this week’s Sim Racing Roundup. You will learn the importance of the role and what it is like to work for an F1 team. I also have tips on how to become a faster sim racer and much more!
Overview
From Sim Racing to the Real Thing
A Day in the Life of a McLaren F1 Team Test and Simulator Driver
McLaren Racing explain the role of Will Stevens as their F1 test and simulator driver. For the past eight seasons, he’s dovetailed his commitments in WEC and other sportscar championships with a role as a Test and Simulator Driver for the McLaren Formula 1 Team. He’s one of the many individuals who fulfil a crucial role in delivering performance over the race weekend from the MTC, McLaren’s factory.
“My job is to bridge the gap between real life and the virtual world in the simulator,” says Will. “You can break it down into three primary tasks: the first is general development of this year’s car, ultimately trying to make it quicker. The field is so close now that even if we can find a few hundredths of a second, it’s going to make a difference. Beyond that, there’s obviously a big regulation change coming, so a lot of our focus now is taken by that, developing everything from suspension to aerodynamics for 2026.
“The third and final part is race weekend support. This is me and the simulator engineering team and me, here at the factory, while the cars are on track. Doesn’t matter where the team is in the world, or what hour of the day that translates to here in Woking, we’ll be here providing input into decision-making.”
How Sim Racer Max Esterson Passed the Audition at Petit Le Mans
With his Formula 2 season coming to an abrupt end after a point-less maiden season, sim racer Max Esterson was on the lookout for new opportunities and the rare chance to drive an LMDh hypercar came up.
His No.85 JDC Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 – the only customer hypercar in IMSA – ended up laps down and out of contention after it was hit by the No.25 BMW at the infamous Turn 10 left-hander at the end of the back straight at Petit Le Mans. The No.25 was penalized and the No.85’s race went downhill from there.
“There’s probably not a much more difficult audition,” laughs Esterson, who did race at Road Atlanta in Formula Ford and got a short test in the 963 ahead of Petit Le Mans. “It’s not the easiest track to jump into…”
Is Max Verstappen Sim Racing’s Biggest Ally?
Mike Channell of Top Gear asks the question, is Max Verstappen sim racing’s biggest ally? “For a start, after years spent in virtual competition, it’s clear Max has massive respect for top tier sim drivers, a respect he wants motorsport fans to share. He’s busy constructing an entire GT3 racing team, called Verstappen.com Racing, with the explicit goal of elevating talented sim racers into opportunities in real world racing, such as the Spa 24 Hours. This is the very definition of putting your money where your mouth is and given that a GT3 car starts at half a million euro, that’s a substantial amount of money to fit in the small area occupied by your mouth.”
Competitive Sim Racing News
Respect Beyond the Track
Box This Lap looks at an unsettling situation where a sim racer took a situation that happened on the virtual track during an iRacing event and crossed the boundary into real-life harassment.
“When anger spills beyond the digital boundary, we’re no longer talking about competitiveness we’re talking about emotional violence. Seeking someone out beyond the game just to insult or intimidate them isn’t “passion”; it’s a sign of something darker the inability to separate the virtual from the real world.”
Sim Racing Tips & Techniques
This Is How To Get Into Sim Racing On a Budget
How To Become a Faster Sim Racer
Let’s be honest: we’ve all dreamed of driving a Formula 1 car… but very few of us have a paddock in the backyard. Luckily, there’s sim racing, the most accessible way to dive into the world of motorsport without leaving your living room. Whether you’re a casual enthusiast or an aspiring racer, here are six essential tips from the famed Winfield Racing School to take your simulator driving to the next level!
Sim Racing Tech Roundup
- Official Partnership: Sim-Lab and Cosworth Unite (Box This Lap)
- NACON Celebrates Sim Racing Expo with New Accessories and an Exceptional Promotion (PR)
- Fanatec Powers Project Motor Racing at SimRacing Expo 2025 (Fanatec)
- Fanatec Reveals New Podium DD Wheel Base and Podium Pedals at SimRacing Expo 2025 (GT Planet)
- Fanatec’s new Podium Pedals features analysis (Box This Lap)
- Karting Simulator by A1 Simulation (A1 Simulation)
- SimRacing Expo 2025: Simagic reveals new Zeus Formula steering wheel (Traxion)
- Simagic stole the show at SimRacing Expo 2025 with its stunning gear (Gadget Guy)
- Thrustmaster Unveils New Gear at SimRacing Expo Dortmund 2025: Everything You Need to Know (Box This Lap)
- SIMAGIC at SimRacing Expo 2025: A Triple Reveal (WBOY)
- The Next Hardware Revolution in Sim Racing (Box This Lap)
General Sim Racing News
- Project Motor Racing Direct Capture Onboard Gameplay Shows off Multiclass Racing (GT Planet)
- From the track to the simulator: preparing for winter (Virtex)
- ‘NASCAR 25′ game off to quick start in sales (Sports Business Journal)
- Assetto Corsa Rally Early Access Starts November 13 (Assetto Corsa Rally)
- Assetto Corsa Rally Revealed, Heads to Steam Early Access on November 13 (GT Planet)
- Assetto Corsa Rally: A New Love for Simracing Fans (Box This Lap)
- Project Motor Racing’s True2Track Trailer Highlights Dynamic Surface Modeling (GT Planet)
- Project Motor Racing presents Multiplayer, True2Track, and Daytona at the Sim Racing Expo (Box This Lap)
- Assetto Corsa Evo: This Is What the Open World Will Be Like (Box This Lap)
- iRacing Arcade blends sim racing with Mario Kart and… SimCity? (New Zealand Herald)
- Reiza Previews Spa 2005, AI Improvements For Automobilista 2 (Overtake)
- iRacing Arcade offers initial release date and free playable demo (Grassroots Motorsports)
- The Crew Motorfest Year 3 Begins November 5, Season 9 to Add Track Creator, NASCAR, & More (GT Planet)
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.
