Ahmedabad: Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited (MFRL) has appointed Shreyas Iyer as the official brand ambassador for the Formula 1® Program in India, marking a significant step in expanding the country’s sim racing ecosystem.
The announcement comes as MFRL gears up to host the F1® Sim Racing India Open 2026, an official Formula 1®-sanctioned competition aimed at creating a national platform for emerging esports and motorsport talent. The initiative reflects Mumbai Falcons’ broader vision to build a multi-disciplinary sporting culture and infrastructure in India.
Iyer, known for his consistency and leadership in Indian cricket, brings strong youth appeal and cross-platform influence, aligning with the program’s ambition to connect with India’s digital-native sporting generation.
“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. 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,” said, Shreyas Iyer, Brand Ambassador for the F1® Program in India led by Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited.
Commenting on the development, Ameet Gadhoke, Managing Director, MFRL, said, “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 yet another significant initiative in that direction. Shreyas represents exactly the kind of athlete we had in mind when shaping this initiative displaying sporting excellence and discipline paired with authentic resonance with the emerging demographic, the younger aspiring generations. The platform we’re about to launch is something India has not seen before in this space. The full scope of this initiative will be announced shortly.”
The championship will be played on F1® 25, the official game of the FIA Formula One World Championship™, replicating global circuits, formats, and team liveries. Registrations open on April 30 via the MFRL app, with participation enabled across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox platforms.
The competition will feature a multi-stage format, beginning with online qualifiers, followed by city-based simulator rounds, and culminating in a national final in Mumbai in November 2026.
With this initiative, Mumbai Falcons aims to create a structured pathway for Indian gamers and motorsport enthusiasts to access global-format competitive racing, positioning sim racing as a serious sporting discipline in the country.
