Formula 1® announces multi-year renewal with Fanatec ahead of F1® Sim Racing World Championship 2026

Formula 1® has today announced the renewal of its global licensing partnership with leading sim racing hardware company, Fanatec®.

The extension will introduce a new generation of officially licensed F1 products to fans and racers worldwide, including advanced steering wheels and limited-edition products, engineered to mirror the performance, innovation, and precision that define modern Formula 1.

As an Official Sponsor and Hardware Partner of the F1® Sim Racing World Championship, Fanatec will provide the professional-grade simulators used by all Formula 1 Sim Racing teams and drivers across the 2026 season. The Championship will launch at DreamHack, Birmingham this coming weekend, from 27-29 March 2026, before moving to Formula 1's state-of-the-art Media and Technology Centre at Biggin Hill, where drivers will compete across a 12-round calendar for the Drivers' and Teams' Championships and a share of the $750,000 prize pool, with every round broadcast live across Formula 1's digital platforms.

Showcasing the growing convergence of elite motorsport and high-level virtual racing, Fanatec simulators will be present at all Formula 1 Grands Prix, forming a central experience within Fan Zones at the races and allowing fans to get behind the wheel for an authentic taste of modern Formula 1 machinery.

Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer at Formula 1, said:

"Fanatec has helped elevate the competitive standard of our F1 Sim Racing ecosystem, and this extension is an exciting step forward in our long and successful relationship. This state-of-the-art hardware brings fans and racers even closer to the technology used in Formula 1, giving our audience a more authentic and accessible way to experience the sport. With Fanatec supporting the F1 Sim Racing World Championship and powering fan experiences at all our Grands Prix, we're strengthening the connection between virtual and real-world racing and opening up even more opportunities for fans to engage with our sport."

Thi La, Chief Executive Officer at CORSAIR, said:

"Sim racing has become a vital part of the wider motorsport culture, and Formula 1 has been instrumental in that progression. The Fanatec and F1 partnership means we can keep raising standards for competitive play and fan engagement, bringing officially licensed F1 products to more players and more events around the world."