Jarno Opmeer has been crowned the 2025 F1 Sim Racing World Champion for a historic third time, concluding an intense season finale at the virtual Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The event, officially sponsored by Fanatec, who also serves as the hardware supplier, saw Opmeer not only claim the individual title but also contribute to securing the Teams’ Championship for his Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing team.
An action-packed finale
Heading into the 12th and final round of the season, Opmeer was leading the championship with 148 points, closely followed by KICK F1 Sim Racing Team’s Thomas Ronhaar (127 points) and Williams Esports’ Ismael Fahssi (125 points). Ronhaar had a strong chance of overturning the points deficit after qualifying on pole, while Opmeer’s hopes of a smooth race were dashed when he failed to progress beyond Q2 in Qualifying.
The final race of the season was filled with drama, with multiple twists and turns that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Opmeer and Ronhaar were involved in a dramatic on-track collision during the race, but the Dutchman showcased his resilience by recovering to finish in seventh place. That result was enough to secure the championship title, as Ronhaar, who had been penalized for "rough driving," eventually finished at the back of the pack. Fahssi, despite finishing fifth, couldn’t make up the points necessary to challenge Opmeer for the title.
The race victory went to Otis Lawrence, a rookie driver for Aston Martin Aramco F1 Esports Team, who claimed his first win in the series. McLaren Shadow’s Alfie Butcher and Scuderia Ferrari HP Esports Team’s Bari Broumand rounded off the podium.
Opmeer becomes the most successful F1 sim racing driver
With his third title, Opmeer now stands as the most successful driver in the history of the F1 Sim Racing World Championship. Previously, Opmeer had won the championship in 2020 and 2021 while driving for Alfa Romeo Esports and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Esports, respectively. By surpassing two-time champion Brendon Leigh, who won consecutive titles in 2017 and 2018, Opmeer solidifies his place as a legend of the series.
The 2025 title also marks the second consecutive year that Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing has claimed the driver’s championship, further cementing the squad’s dominance in the virtual F1 motorsport world.
Opmeer’s journey to the championship was not without its challenges. Starting the race in 14th place, the Dutch driver fought his way through the field, ultimately finishing in a position high enough to secure the points needed for the title.
Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing clinches the Teams’ Championship
Alongside Opmeer’s individual triumph, Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing secured the 2025 Teams Championship, earning a prize of $130,000 (~£100,673). This marks the third time the team has won the Teams’ title in its eight-year history, cementing its status as a powerhouse in virtual racing. Beyond F1, Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing has also enjoyed success in other esports competitions, including the Porsche Esports Supercup, which they won in both 2020 and 2024 with Sebastian Job at the helm.
The 2025 season of F1 Sim Racing was operated by ESL FACEIT Group, a prominent esports tournament organizer. The group made waves by parting ways with the RENNSPORT platform for this season, rebranding the ESL R1 tournament to RENNSPORT R1. This shift marks a new chapter in the ever-evolving world of virtual motorsport.
