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Charles Leclerc has spoken about the positive impact sim racing has had on driver relationships, stating that it has brought him closer to fellow Formula 1 drivers George Russell and Alexander Albon.
With the 2020 season delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, F1's young stars have taken to Twitch to live stream themselves racing virtually.
Leclerc says the periods spent together chatting while playing video games has allowed them to catch up on time they lost when competing in junior categories.
“(Sim racing) is not the same thing as reality for sure, and it will never be exactly the same thing as reality, but for now in a situation like this it is the closest we can get,” Leclerc said, as quoted by RACER. “We are all having fun.
“I think this situation also made George, myself and Alex… we probably lost a little bit of contact in terms of speaking to each other over the years with the different categories we were doing.
“And now in a situation like that it’s great to find each other again and to have fun all together racing and doing what we like, so it’s great.”
Last Sunday, Leclerc was gunning for his third Virtual Grand Prix victory in a row, as he and Albon traded the lead position multiple times over the course of the race.
MORE: Albon takes virtual victory at Interlagos following titanic Leclerc battle
Albon came out on top and despite missing out on the win, Leclerc admits that the race was fun to take part in.
“There was less contact and even more overtaking than Austria – it was proper fun!” he said “I knew I had the penalty but it was all about having fun.
“I kept overtaking Alex, I didn’t want him to go, even knowing that George would come back and it would probably cost me the second place. But I really enjoyed this race, it was proper. I had a great time.”
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
Replies (1)
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Posts: 8,527
That is actually a really nice thing. I know now isn't the time for it, but while watching documentaries of how relations between drivers used to be, I kinda wish we'd have more of that these days too. There are a few drivers I think seem like really nice people, but I can't help but feel many of them seem a bit divaish, and I wish they'd try to relax that and just try to get along off-track.