Due to the coronavirus pandemic, practically all sporting events in the world have been suspended and even canceled, including the Olympic Games, to be held in 2021. One of these has been motor racing, which has had to turn off the engines to prevent the virus from spreading.
Nevertheless, some pilots have found the alternative to be able to entertain their followers, without the need to leave their homes: the videogames. Just as different sports have done, such as LaLiga de España, now the F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix is a way to continue enjoying the races.
One of these pilots who have been encouraged to e-sports is the Monterrey native Esteban Gutiérrez, team reserve Mercedes. Guti, as he is also known, already even broadcasts live on his Twitch channel, a platform for the gamer community.
Although their streamings don't have many visualizations, The Mexican said that being able to do it from home has become one of his biggest distractions. In addition, he assured that it is the best way to continue training.
"I love the interaction with followers and I do streaming. Through this I can talk, interact and tell stories. I receive comments, opinions at the time that I train even and also in races ”, he declared in an interview with ESPN.
"Every day I can run a virtual race and that is helping me a lot as a pilot, because this is out of the ordinary, which is to be able to train so often and be on track every day, because it is a complex infrastructure and we need a large team, "he said.
And is that the pilot has met several colleagues. Lando Norris (McLaren), Nichalas Lafiti (Williams) and Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team) are some of the names that compete in this modality.
In addition, the member of the 2019 champion team has been able to contribute his experience as a pilot in video games. The regiomontano was in tenth position in the Virtual GP of Bahrain.
As an e-sports professional, The 28-year-old Mexican has simulators in his living room. He sits in a car-like chair, turns on the console, and starts playing. "It's not like tennis, which is just taking the racket and looking for a friend to play tennis. In races it is different and I have found this way to enjoy ”, he pointed.
Gutierrez too applauded the decision to postpone the implementation of the new regulation by 2022, He considered that the damage that the coronavirus has caused in the category will cause economic damage to the smaller teams.
“The decision to change and do it by 2022 had to be made. Few teams were concerned about that change, but we are all united and it is a common benefit for the cost of developing the new car, "he said.
On the suspension of eight races and one canceled (the historic Monaco GP), Guti commented that it would have been a very big waste of money. "There was no point in developing a car in an interrupted season. This is to support the economic aspect of teams and it is a difficult situation, mainly for small teams ”.
He admitted that he is relieved by the Grand Prix of Mexico, as it will be run in late October."We hope it is not affected. We can see that the cases in China are decreasing and this indicates that in three or four months maximum we can be back, but it is not something that can be confirmed, because everything is uncertain, ”he declared.