Albon ends Leclerc’s winning run in thrilling F1 Virtual GP

Alexander Albon brought Charles Leclerc’s winning run in the Formula 1 Virtual Grand Prix series to an end following a sublime battle at Interlagos.

The pair swapped positions for the lead throughout the entire Dutch Virtual Grand Prix - taking place at the Brazilian Grand Prix venue due to Zandvoort not featuring in the F1 2019 video game - but it was Albon who ultimately triumphed at the end of the 36-lap encounter.

Albon opted for an alternate strategy and pitted later than Leclerc to take on a set of softer Medium tyres compared to the Ferrari driver’s Hards, but had to battle back past Leclerc after emerging narrowly behind when he returned to the track.

The Red Bull driver made what looked to be the race-winning move on Lap 21 on the run to Descido do Lago, before Leclerc launched a surprise attack in the closing stages despite being on older and harder tyres to resume their earlier squabble.

After countless changes for the lead, Albon surged back ahead of Leclerc on the penultimate lap to seal the win, while Leclerc dropped to third behind Williams driver George Russell after being hit by a three-second track limits penalty.

The result marked some redemption for Albon, who not only secured his first Virtual GP victory, but also made up for the heartbreak of missing out on a maiden F1 podium during last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix after being hit by Lewis Hamilton late on.

Polesitter Stoffel Vandoorne remarkably recovered from a poor start that saw him spin along with Ferrari’s Enzo Fittipaldi before the run to Turn 1 to take fourth, ahead of Mercedes teammate Esteban Guttierez.

Renault’s Christian Lundgaard was sixth as Fittipaldi charged back to seventh, while Louis Deletraz, Nicholas Latifi and Lando Norris rounded out the top 10. For the fourth race in a row Norris was hampered by server issues but the McLaren driver overcame the problem to contest the race, starting from the very back of the grid.

David Schumacher was 11th for Racing Point, ahead of fellow Virtual GP debutant Petter Solberg’s Renault.

Ben Stokes claimed honours in the battle of the England cricketers with a strong run to 13th, ahead of Juan Manuel Correa and AC Milan captain and Italy international footballer Alessio Romagnoli.

YouTube sensation ‘Jelly’ finished 16th with England cricketer Stuart Broad 17th. Jimmy Broadbent and Pietro Fittipaldi completed the order, with Antonio Giovinazzi not classified having dropping out of the race following a collision with Latifi.