Gaming
Team Set To Defend F1 Esports Pro Teams’ Championship
Red Bull Racing Esports announce the drivers competing in the 2021 F1 Esports Pro Championship.
The 2021 F1 Esports Pro Championship will see the Red Bull Racing Esports Team defend their title for the third consecutive year, following wins in 2019 and 2020.
This year’s line-up will be as strong as ever when returning to track in October and all three in the team will be wanting to win the Drivers’ Championship as well.
2020’s runner-up Frede Rasmussen and third-placed Marcel Kiefer return to represent the Red Bull Racing Esports team and try to retain the title they won in 2020 by collecting 331 points over 12 rounds.
Last year Frede collected three race wins and a further three podiums, with Marcel picking up six podiums and a win. However, the Danish driver missed out on the Driver’s title by 22 points to Alfa Romeo’s Jarno Opmeer.
Joining the pair for 2021 will be German Esports driver Liam Parnell. The 19-year-old is making his debut in the F1 Esports Pro Championship, although he does have an F1 Pro Exhibition race win to his name, where he also collected the DHL Fastest Lap award.
On Full Charge In Portimão
© Brian Campbell (@bcampbell_photo)
Liam also has experience in the Apex Online Racing F1 Series, where he claimed two victories. The German driver is known amongst other competitors for his setup skills in F1, which has led him to getting the nickname: “The Scientist”.
For 2021 the series will consist of 12 races held over four events, with the Grand Final being held on 15-16 December. Each event will take place over two days and consist of three races at three different tracks – these locations have yet to be announced, but you can guarantee they’ll be at some of the best-loved tracks on the Formula One calendar.
Race Calendar
Date
Event
Location
13-Oct
Event 1
Sakhir, Shanghai
14-Oct
Event 1
Spielberg
27-Oct
Event 2
Silverstone, Monza
28-Oct
Event 2
Spa-Francorchamps
24-Nov
Event 3
Portimão, Zandvoort
25-Nov
Event 3
Austin
15-Dec
Event 4
Imola, Mexico
16-Dec
Event 4
Sao Paolo
Ahead of the team being announced on the F1 Preview Show, we got the thoughts of the trio and what can be expected for the 2021 season.
Frede Rasmussen
Frede's Ready For Competition
© Kasper Laursen
I’ve enjoyed working as a Team every day to get faster on the track and push each other further. It would be amazing to win three times in a row and I believe we can do it
Frede will be looking to go one better this year and is geared up for the competition, he said: “We are working hard every day to achieve our third Championship title in a row which would be amazing, and I believe we can do it again. It’s been great to welcome Liam to the Team too, he’s been very helpful with the set ups, I never realised how important it was until he joined. I’m also happy to be racing alongside Marcel again too, he’s great to work with.”
Marcel Kiefer
Marcel Kiefer In The New Kit
© Patrick Scheiber
We all want to win every single time so we will take it race by race and I will do everything I can behind the scenes with Frede and Liam to maximise our performance on the track
German Marcel is looking forward to returning to the team and wants to continue last year’s momentum. He said: “I’m so excited for this year’s F1 Esports Pro series, we won the Team title for the second time in a row last year so we are hoping to build on that momentum and make it a third! We have a new Teammate Liam who I think will add a new dynamic to the Team alongside Frede and I. This is my second year with Red Bull Racing Esports and I’m happy they put their trust in me again, a Team that I can happily call a family.”
F1 Esports Pro Championship debutant and the latest member of Red Bull Racing Esports Liam added: “It’s amazing to be representing Red Bull Racing Esports, I never could have dreamed of this and I am so happy that I got this opportunity. Myself, Marcel and Frede have practiced a lot and we will try our hardest to defend the Team championship title, that’s our ultimate goal and I will do everything I can to support Frede and Marcel to get there. We are a talented Team, we need to believe in our abilities and show that we can be the best again.”
This season will be the first time the team will be wearing their exclusive hummel teamwear, specifically created for Esports. And you too, can get your hands on this performance shirt on Red Bull Shop.
Each event will start with Free Practice for the first race, then qualifying and a 35% distance race (compared to a Formula One race). This will then be repeated for the second and third races.
Round one of the 2021 season gets underway on 13-14 October and you’ll be able to catch all the action of F1 Esports YouTube, Twitch and Facebook channels.
On Track In Russia
© @Zakon_BY