Five F1 drivers confirmed for Esports Virtual Vietnam GP

©Codemasters

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This weekend's virtual Vietnam Grand Prix will include current F1 drivers Charles Leclerc, Alex Albon, George Russell, Lando Norris and Nicholas Latifi.

The quintet of racers will be joined by former F1 driver and Sky pundit Johnny Herbert as well as a host of other stars including England's top cricketer Ben Stokes who will be sim racing alongside Albon for Red Bull.

Also, Renault has announced that academy member Christian Lundgaard will be on the grid along with Australian Supercars hotshot Andre Heimgartner.

The event is the second round of the new F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix series, with Renault junior Guanyu Zhou winning the inaugural race in Bahrain last month.

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Codemasters, the developer of the 2019 Formula 1 official gaming platform has not yet integrated into its software the new Hanoi track.

Drivers will therefore battle on Albert Park's street circuit in Melbourne, the venue of the Australian Grand Prix.

Festivities will kick off on Sunday April 5 at 8:00pm UK (3:00pm EST and 9:00pm CET), with the live action streamed on the official Formula 1 YouTube, Twitch and Facebook channels

"Following the massive success of the F1 Esports Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix, we are thrilled to be able to come back online again this weekend to provide fans with some racing action," said Julian Tan, F1's Head of Digital Business Initiatives and Esports.

"A star-studded grid is shaping up with our F1 stars – past, present and future – as well as huge names in sports and entertainment.

"We look forward to providing some light relief through esports as we all navigate through these difficult times together, where our fans can engage with our sport in a different but familiar way."

As was the case at the first round in Bahrain, game settings will be configured in such a way to encourage competitive and entertaining racing.

This includes running equal car performance with fixed setups, reduced vehicle damage, and optional anti-lock brakes and traction control for those less familiar with the game.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.