Ocon and Prost hit the virtual streets of Monaco!

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Virtual GP rookies Esteban Ocon and Nicolas Prost will carry Renault's hopes in Sunday's online Monaco Grand Prix event.

The 67th edition of the Monaco Grand Prix was set to take place this weekend, but for the first time in its rich the race was canceled, a victim of the coronavirus pandemic.

But a virtual street battle on the F1 2019 platform is the next best thing and the race is shaping up to be a high-point of the Esports season.

Real-world driver Ocon will make his entry into F1's virtual environment, racing on his own rig from Renault's flagship store on the Champs Elysées in Paris.

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"I’m really excited to be racing in a Formula 1 Virtual Grand Prix for the first time this weekend," said the Frenchman.

"During these past few months, I’ve been using my simulator at home to stay sharp and keep the passion for racing going.

"I’m quite new to the Formula 1 2019 game so I’ve been spending time with the guys from Team Vitality and with my race engineer Mark Slade to get up to speed and be as prepared as we can be for a competitive result.

"Monaco is a circuit I really like and it’s a place – even on a racing game – where you have to be fully focused and on it.

"It’s also going to be very cool racing from L’Atelier Renault on the Champs Elysées in Paris. That’s going to be quite a unique experience!"

Nico Prost will return the family's famous name to the Principality. The son of four-time world champion Alain Prost - who also won four times in the Principality - will race remotely from his home in Geneva.

"I am really delighted to take part in the Virtual Monaco GP this weekend," said the 38-year-old former Formula E driver.

"It’s nice to do it with Renault F1, a brand that has been very important in my career and a team where I spent a lot of time in the past.
"Driving in Monaco is always mega. I am not a huge sim racer, but every time I play, I drive around Monaco, so maybe it is going to help me. I’ve planned to train quite a lot in the next few days!"

Among the field's other debutants will be seven-time Grand Prix winner Valtteri Bottas and a host of celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment who will also tackle Monte Carlo's treacherous track.

Sunday's action in Monaco will kick at 6pm UK time (1pm EST - 7pm CET) and will be streamed live on F1's YouTube, Twitch and Facebook channels.

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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.