F1 Esports returns this week with a pivotal trio of races.
The last event was dominated by the top three in the championship, Jarno Opmeer, Marcel Kiefer, and Frederik Rasmussen. Just behind them in the standings is Renault’s #1 Nicolas Longuet, who has consistently been hauling in points.
With the field so tight, qualifying for races is crucial. However this week it may be less so, as F1 Esports visits some of the more overtaking-friendly circuits on the calendar. Let’s take a look.
Event 3 tracks
The paddock heads to Silverstone, Spa, and Monza this week, setting up for a slipstream fest on these stunning circuits.
With two DRS zones each and plenty of wide corners that allow for wheel-to-wheel racing, it’s going to be amazing to see just who comes out on top here.
Want to see how fast you can lap these tracks? Check out our setups!
Predictions
So who will come out from Event 3 on top? It’s hard to look past the raw pace of Opmeer at the moment. The Alfa driver has racked up three wins and has been on the podium in every race so far.
Likewise, the Red Bull pair are remarkably strong. Silverstone is where Marcel Kiefer took his first win last year, so watch out for him.
In 2019, Spa saw victory for Dani Bereznay, but he was joined on the podium by Rasmussen and Opmeer. Bereznay also took victory in Monza, so it could be a successful week for the Alfa driver.
Of course, Monza was also Longuet’s only race of 2019 and he put in an amazing showing with a 2nd place.
The defending champion David Tonizza has suffered some awful luck this year, but his pace is still strong and he has a win under his belt too. He could easily be in the mix this week.
If we had to pick winners, we’ll back Opmeer for at least one victory, and Kiefer for one. This could easily be the week Longuet gets his first win though.
Strategy
With the new 35% races, tyre strategy is more important than ever.
Silverstone is rough on tyres and has a very long pit lane, so maximising the rubber will be key. A medium-soft strategy will probably be the fastest.
A similar strategy will likely be the best at Spa, though with the long lap the undercut could be mighty and tempt some drivers to get into the pits early.
There is also always a risk of rain at Spa, so the drivers may have to compromise their setups a bit.
Monza is kinder on tyres, but with some huge braking zones it will still benefit those that keep their tyres alive. It should be a simple soft-medium here though, as those that start on the medium could quickly lose touch with the soft runners thanks to less traction.
How to watch
F1 Esports live at 7.30pm GMT on 18 & 19 November.
You can watch on the official F1 Facebook, Twitch, and YouTube channels.
Qualifying is live on Twitch at 3.30pm GMT on both 18 & 19 November.