With no real motorsport for the foreseeable future, Esports has the chance to fill th✱e F1 void over the coming weeks and mon🃏ths.

In the space of a week, F1 now has three separate Esports divisions sharing centre st🗹age with the sport’s own Virtual Grand Prix series debuting at the weekend.

The Bahrain Virtual Grand Prix saw the likes of Lando Norris and Nicholas Latifi take on special guests including golf legen🌸d Ian Poulter and music star Liam Payne, with old heroes like Johnny Herbert and Anthony Davidson also getting behind the elec🧔tronic steering wheel.

While the opener was𝄹 a far from smooth affair, it did provide some much-needed light reli൲ef in dark times and gave stars like Norris the chance to express themselves in a different way.

In the abs𒅌ence of very few alternatives, F1 enjoyed viewer numbers it usually only reaches duriಞng races.

1.5 million views from live and playback watches on the Bahrain Virtual Grand Prix through F1’s YouTube channel alone, plus the five-minute highlights video gaining 640,000 views inside 24 hours of being𓂃 published.

It opens the door even wider on a market F1 is seeking to 🐭dive into, while also offering a new opportunity for all involved to make the most of Esports in the absence of real racing.

Feature: Can Esports really fill the F1 void?

Let us know what you think of Esports in the comments below and give your vote on wuqian0821.com F1 Twitter poll which will finish at 09:30 GMT tomorrow.

C꧃an fill the void during the postponed start to the season?

— wuqian0821.com/F1 (@wuqian0821.com_F1)