2019 Formula 1 New Balance Esports Pro Series: Event 1 Recap

Haas F1 Team Esports picked up eight points in the first event of the 2019 Formula 1 New Balance Esports Pro Series at London’s Gfinity Arena on Wednesday 11^th Sept.

Dutchman Floris Wijers secured all the team’s points on his F1 Esports debut with a ninth-place finish at the series-opening race in Bahrain followed by seventh at the Shanghai International Circuit race.

Jan Fehler, also racing in his first Pro Series races for Haas F1 Esports Team, was unable to net any points in the first three of twelve races scheduled for the 2019 season; Bahrain, China and Azerbaijan.

F1 Esports races are run at a quarter distance of their full Formula 1 counterparts.

Event: Bahrain (Round 1 of 12) – 14 laps

Location: Sakhir Circuit

Race Winner: David Tonizza of Ferrari Driver Academy

Team Result:

Floris Wijers – Started 12^th / Finished 9^th

Jan Fehler – Started 20^th / Finished 20^th

In race one at Bahrain’s Sakhir Circuit, Fehler began 20^th on the grid with Wijers 12^th. The latter picked up a handful of positions after his pit stop to secure Haas’ first points of the 2019 Pro Series.

Although Fehler finished at the back of the field, he did set the fastest lap of the race, a 1:28.857. He was however ineligible to pick up a bonus point after finishing outside of the top 10.

Event: China (Round 2 of 12) – 14 laps

Location: Shanghai International Circuit

Race Winner: David Tonizza of Ferrari Driver Academy

Team Result:

Floris Wijers – Started 9^th / Finished 8^th (classified 7^th)

Jan Fehler – Started 17^th / Finished 17^th

Starting the second race in China from ninth, Wijers made up one position ahead of the pit stop phase and remained in eighth all the way to the checkered flag.

He was subsequently promoted to seventh, after reigning F1 Esports series champion Brendon Leigh was awarded a three second time penalty after causing avoidable contact earlier in the race. The result meant Wijers picked up a further six points in the drivers’ championship.

Fehler started the race in 17^th climbing as high as 14^th until a spin on the penultimate lap saw him fall back to 17^th position.

Event: Azerbaijan (Round 3 of 12) – 13 laps

Location: Baku City Circuit

Race Winner: Frederik Rasmussen of Red Bull Racing Esports

Team Result:

Floris Wijers – Started 15^th / Finished 18^th

Jan Fehler – Started 20^th / Did Not Finish

In the third and final race both Haas drivers struggled in qualifying, with Wijers starting 15^th and Fehler 20^th – the German unable to set a lap time.

Fehler had to pit after the first lap as a result of hitting the wall and ultimately retired with four laps left to run. Like his teammate, Wijers also suffered front wing damage at the tight and unforgiving street circuit and crossed the line in 18^th position.

Haas F1 Team Esports sit ninth out of ten entrants in the constructors’ championship, 18 points behind Mercedes Esports and four points ahead of Toro Rosso Esports.

Floris Wijers, Haas F1 Team Esports

“It was very pleasing to be in the points in Bahrain which was my very first Pro Series race. It was the same story in the second race – I’m very happy as I didn’t expect to get this many points after two races but that’s what we need to do, score consistent points. Unfortunately, Baku didn’t go as well but we’ll be back stronger in the next event.”

Jan Fehler, Haas F1 Team Esports

“Obviously the first three races didn’t go as planned for me. I know what went wrong so I will analyze that and be better prepared for the next event.”