Alfie Butcher and Bari Broumand take victory in Rounds 6 and 7 of F1 Sim Racing World Championship

McLaren Shadow racer Alfie Butcher took his first win of the 2025 F1 Sim Racing World Championship during Round 6 on Wednesday, while Bari Broumand followed up on his previous win during Event 1 by emerging victorious in Round 7.

After reigning Drivers’ Champion Frederik Rasmussen triumphed in Round 5 at Silverstone on Tuesday, it was Thomas Ronhaar who grabbed pole position for the next race of the event at Spa-Francorchamps.

The KICK F1 Sim Racing Team driver made a good start when Round 6 got underway – with the lead occasionally changing hands with Butcher in the opening stages – but a thrilling battle played out at the front as the 22-lap event entered into its final stages.

While Butcher crossed the line to seal his debut victory of the campaign, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Esports Team racer Istvan Puki – who had originally lined up in sixth on the grid – closed in on the leading cars and impressively overtook three on the last tour to move from fifth to second.

Ronhaar had to settle for third, ahead of Origin RB’s Tom Manley in fourth, Mercedes’ Daniel Bereznay in fifth and Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing’s Jarno Opmeer – the two-time champion – in sixth.

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Focus then switched to Round 7, which would see the drivers take on Zandvoort. Broumand secured pole position during qualifying, with fellow Ferrari racer Nicolas Longuet in third while championship leader Ismael Fahssi was sandwiched between them in second.

Broumand fended off a challenge from team mate Longuet into the first corner, but early rainfall sparked questions over whether anybody would choose to make an early pit stop. Several drivers opted to do so, including the race leader – which left Longuet unable to pit at the same time, dropping him down the order when he eventually emerged from his stop.

There was more rain to come later in the 36-lap encounter and, while Broumand kept his cool up front, Longuet was busy trying to carve his way through the field. A thrilling multi-car battle ensued that saw Longuet work his way up to fifth.

It was victory number two of the season for Broumand up ahead, who crossed the line ahead of Williams Esports’ Fahssi in second and Ronhaar in third. Jake Benham was fourth for Mercedes, followed by Longuet in fifth and Alpine Sim Racing Team’s Joni Tormala in sixth place.

This has left Fahssi at the top of the Drivers’ standings after seven rounds, while Mercedes-AMG sit atop the Teams’ table.

Event 2 of the 2025 F1 Sim Racing World Championship will conclude with Round 8 at the Circuit of The Americas, with qualifying set to take place on Thursday at 1700 UTC followed by the race at 2000 UTC.

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