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Charles Leclerc Hints at Return to Online Racing Alongside Lando Norris & Others During F1 Offseason

Published 01/17/2021, 10:20 AM EST

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via Getty

COVID sent the entire world into a lockdown, and F1 was no different. The FIA postponed the 2020 season while the teams looked set to participate in Australia. Even though it did resume on July 4, 2020, there was a 4-month gap in between for everybody involved.

So, how did the drivers kill their time in between?

They participated in virtual racing from their homes.

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While this barely interests the older generation of Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen, and Sebastian Vettel, the upcoming racers like Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Alex Albon, and Lando Norris regularly indulge themselves in this form of simulated racing.

These four young drivers in particular took a particular liking to it. Not only did they participate, but they also streamed the live telecast to their twitch followers, and that’s why the fans anointed them with the moniker the ‘Twitch Quartet.’

Since it is off-season again, fans are hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite drivers yet again. A user asked Leclerc about the status of the twitch quartet. The Ferrari driver said that he received a mixed response from his fellow F1 drivers.

via Reuters

“Formula 1 has announced that they are going to do again the virtual grand Prix. And we are trying to, well I have asked basically the ‘Twitch cup quartet’, as you call it, to do it all together again.”

“George told me the reply, and I am pretty sure he would do it. But yes, he didn’t say 100% but I think he’s up for it. Alex didn’t reply though,” said Leclerc.

Charles Leclerc took to virtual racing last season

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The Monegasque took to sim racing like fish to water. To prepare himself, he trained with Ferrari’s sim racing team as he was also officially representing them.

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The training proved fruitful for him as he won the first two rounds in China and Vietnam. He beat the likes of Norris and Albon in both of these races.

Perhaps he is a natural whose talent is spilling over to online driving competitions as well. Hopefully, Alex Albon joins it too since he is without a drive next season. No better way than simulator racing to keep in touch with your F1 driving skills.

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Written by:

Bharat Aggarwal

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Bharat Aggarwal is a sports analyst for EssentiallySports, covering Formula 1 and NBA. A Delhi University graduate, Bharat has multi-year experience in sports writing, having closely worked with the content strategy aspect as well. Bharat Aggarwal supports Manchester United, Lewis Hamilton, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal, Dirk Nowitzki, Sachin Tendulkar, Ayrton Senna, Kristaps Porzingis, and Dallas Mavericks.
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