From Controller to Cockpit: How Simulation Technology Can Make Formula 1 More Accessible

To say that the sport of Formula 1 is inaccessible is a clear understatement. A typical 10-year junior karting career alone can cost up to 1 million dollars. This sum increases tenfold when considering the purchase of a seat in lower Formula racing divisions; as Formula 1 teams struggle to survive, they are willing to ‘sell’ their precious driver spots in return for funding. Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll has invested $ 1 Billion into Aston Martin, a deal which included a seat for his son on the company’s Formula 1 team. Without personal funding, drivers must rely on other sources of income such as sponsors or Formula 1 team junior academies, but the spaces are scarce and the competition ferocious. From a more modest background, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was sponsored by McLaren Racing, which funded his journey to Formula 1 for nine years and eventually offered him a seat in the team. Hamilton has criticized  the inaccessibility of the sport, labelling Formula 1 as a “Billionaires Boys Club”.However, a new virtual route could increase the accessibility of the sport.  Major advances in technology have made simulation racing increasingly realistic; ;  the move from controller to cockpit seems more viable than ever.

Home simulation racing ranges from a simple controller and screen to a full-motion capture simulator with a steering wheel and pedals. Offering an immersive experience that replicates the sensations of a real-life cockpit, full-motion simulators run a variety of specialised Formula 1 simulation softwares. One of these softwares used by hobby drivers is iRacing, which models tracks using 3D laser scanning to make them as realistic as possible and allows you to compete against racers around the world. F1 teams have their own multi-million-dollar simulators for  drivers to practice with between races. This training is essential to build up the muscle memory of the layout of a circuit in a low-risk, low-pressure environment, weeks before physically racing on it.

The best simulation technology is also present in the world of Formula 1 Esports, where competitors race in virtual Grand Prix from the comfort of their homes. Formula 1 Esports racked up over 23 million views across digital platforms in 2021, a fanbase that will only grow in the future. Four years ago, Cem Bolukbasi was competing in the World F1 Esports Series: he was able to convert his virtual racing skills onto the real racetrack and recently competed in his first race in the Formula 2 Championship, the junior division most drivers have to pass by to attain Formula 1. Another simulation racer turned real driver is Rudy van Buren who now participates in the GT Pro Series. He has also been the official simulation driver for the McLaren Formula 1 team since 2017, helping the real-life drivers prepare for each race.

While the transition from controller to cockpit is extremely rare, Bolukbasi and Van Buren’s impressive journeys could pave the way for many others to follow. These two examples prove that simulation and reality are only getting closer, potentially revolutionising the accessibility of Formula 1.

McGill Esports athlete and F1 enthusiast Bryant Recker thinks that  “simulation could very much be the new pathway towards affordable motor racing,” as games are becoming increasingly  immersive with improved motion capture and graphics. As well as the benefit of realism, the simulation route can be a much cheaper alternative to karting, allowing aspiring drivers to practice on any circuit at any time without spending on travel, maintenance and participation costs. By nature, simulation racing is also much safer than karting, which considerably lowers the chances of career-ending injuries for drivers.

However, the simulation route is not widely accepted by all. Formula 1 prodigy and current Mercedes driver George Russell believes that the lack of risk element in virtual racing cannot be neglected. In an interview with the BBC he noted  that "the biggest difference is you don't quite have that sense of speed or fear," feelings embedded in the very nature of Formula 1. The lack of risk could certainly give a sense of false security to simulation drivers, putting them in real danger the second they enter a real cockpit. For Russell,a simulator cannot compare to reality, although that could change in the future – Bolukbasi and Van Buren are the pioneers of this change.

Furthermore, although simulators are cheaper than the typical karting path to F1, they are still relatively expensive for an average consumer. Full-motion simulators can cost in the tens-to-hundreds of thousands of dollars; prices must drop in the future for this route to become more affordable for the majority.

The gap between controller and cockpit is shrinking,with simulation driving slowly developing as a cheaper, safer and overall more viable route than traditional karting. More and more motorsport drivers are coming from the virtual world of Esports - it could only be a matter of time until we see one join the Formula 1 grid.