In a significant push towards blending motorsport and esports in India, Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as the official brand ambassador for a Formula 1-backed sim racing programme, with Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited announcing his association ahead of the launch of the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026.
The initiative, organised under an agreement granting Mumbai Falcons the rights to host an official Formula 1-sanctioned sim racing competition, aims to create a structured national pathway for emerging esports racing talent. It marks a notable step in integrating competitive gaming with India’s broader sporting ecosystem.
Iyer, one of India’s most consistent performers across formats, has also built a strong connect with younger audiences beyond cricket, making him a strategic choice to front a project focused on engaging the next generation of athletes.
“Sport has always been about finding your edge and staying disciplined enough to act on it. When I heard what Mumbai Falcons is building in terms of a real pathway that takes young Indians from where they are today to where they could go, I didn’t need much convincing,” Iyer said.
“This is the kind of initiative I would have wanted access to growing up, and I’m proud to be part of what’s coming,” he added.
The championship will be conducted on F1 25, the official game of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, designed to replicate real-world circuits, race formats, and team environments to deliver an immersive and authentic racing experience.
Explaining the vision behind the initiative, Ameet Gadhoke, Managing Director of Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited, said the project is aimed at bridging structural gaps in Indian sport.
“We built Mumbai Falcons on the belief that India has world-class sporting talent; the potential, however, has been constrained by structural deficiencies. Partnering with Formula 1 to bring the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026 to life is another significant step in that direction,” Gadhoke said.
“Shreyas represents exactly the kind of athlete we had in mind, combining sporting excellence, discipline, and a genuine connect with younger, aspiring audiences. The platform we’re about to launch is something India has not seen before in this space,” he added.
Registrations for the competition will open on April 30 via the MFRL app, with online qualifiers followed by city-based simulator rounds. The tournament will culminate in a national final in Mumbai in November.
Mumbai Falcons’ most ambitious nationwide project to date aims to provide Indian youth with a credible pathway into global-format competitive racing through esports.