Verstappen absent from F1’s Virtual Grand Prix series as Red Bull reveal line up

F1 is attempting to fill the gap left from the absent races with an upcoming Esports series to replace the action.

Starting this weekend with Bahrain on Sunday Verstappen has revealed he will not be participating in the series despite being a known online racer, due to not being familiar with the official F1 2019 game.

"No, I won't," he told Ziggo TV. "Especially since I never play that game.

“It will take days to understand the game just a little bit better. And I don't want to get into it right now.

Red Bull have revealed who will driver instead, with six-time Olympic Champion Hoy partnering Austrian driver Phillip Eng.

“Chris, who needs no introduction, is a British six-time Olympic gold medallist and thanks to his close ties with Aston Martin, will join us to race in the virtual world this weekend,” Red Bull announced.

“Since retiring from track cycling he has started carving out a career in motorsport and has competed in - and won - the European Le Mans Series. He and teammate Charlie Robertson clinched the title with a round to spare in 2015.

“Hoy's teammate for Sunday, Philipp Eng, is an Austrian-born Red Bull athlete competing in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

“Since making his professional debut in 2006, Eng has 24 race wins to his name and claimed four titles.

“Although not used to single-seaters, the 30-year-old offers a wealth of experience to our virtual race Team this weekend.”