The 2022 F1 Esports Series Pro Championship, presented by Aramco, is almost here – and 10 teams and 30 drivers will once again battle for the titles over the coming months, beginning in just a few weeks and concluding in December.
This year will see the introduction of longer, 50% distance races, as well as an additional day of racing. Contested over 12 rounds, this year’s Pro Championship will consist of four events, each containing three qualifying and race sessions on three separate days.
That means six streams per event, giving fans and drivers more action than ever. As well as the championships, a cash prize pot is up for grabs for the team and drivers that amass the most points over the season, so let’s find out where they will be racing.
The Calendar
The first event, held from September 14th-16th, includes the traditional Esports opener in Bahrain, where the long straights and hard braking zones always make for exciting racing. Imola is up next, where the twists and slower speeds demand precision at all times. Finally, Event 1 concludes with an earlier-than-usual trip to Silverstone, home of searing speed, and of the first-ever F1 World Championship Grand Prix back in 1950.
Four weeks later (October 12th-14th), Event 2 takes on a tour of Europe, with the familiar site of the Red Bull Ring kicking things off. Attentions then turn to the Benelux region, with Spa-Francorchamps and Zandvoort waiting for what should be two more classic races.
It’s a shorter wait for the next event, as the third trio arrives over November 2nd-4th.
Extreme speed and low downforce will be the order of the day, with Monza starting things off, before Mexico City and the Circuit of the Americas take us over to North America.
The fourth and final event is an early Christmas present for all, taking place from December 14th-16th. Japan’s Suzuka Circuit will be a hugely-popular returning race for the drivers, with its twists and turns making for a real rollercoaster experience.
Mirroring the real-world F1 championship, the season will finish with trips to Interlagos and Yas Marina, where the final points will be on offer to seal the championship.
Brand New Format
Held across Wednesday-Friday, each event will feature three qualifying streams (available on Twitch and YouTube), as well as three full race streams (Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, TV), with races this year set at 50% distance, up from 35% in 2021.
The increase to 50% distance also brings in a completely new element of competition, with swathes of strategy options now opening up. Strategy, as well as raw speed and consistency, is about to change the game.
