Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited announced cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues as Brand Ambassador for the F1® Sim Racing India Open 2026, alongside Shreyas Iyer. The appointment aims to expand motorsport participation across India, particularly among youth and women.
Championship Details
The F1® Sim Racing India Open 2026 will run on F1® 25, the official game of the FIA Formula One World Championship. Competitors will participate across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox through online qualifiers before progressing to city-based simulator rounds in ten cities. The national final will take place in Mumbai.
Time trials at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi are scheduled from July 30 to August 1, where racers can secure spots in subsequent championship stages. The event offers a 2-crore prize pool designated as a driver development fund for emerging talent.
Women’s Participation in Formula 1
Women now comprise 42 percent of Formula 1’s global fanbase, up from 37 percent in 2018. Nearly 48 percent of new F1 fans in 2025 are women. In India, women account for approximately 40 percent of the country’s F1 audience. The overall Indian F1 fanbase has grown from roughly 31 million in 2020 to nearly 79 million today.
Ambassador’s Perspective
Rodrigues stated that sport has the power to challenge perceptions and create opportunities for the next generation. “Cricket has given me opportunities I could only dream of as a child, and I hope this programme inspires more young girls to believe that no sport is out of reach,” she said in a statement.
She highlighted parallels between cricket and racing, noting both demand quick decision-making, consistency, and composure under pressure.
Program Vision
Ameet Gadhoke, Managing Director of Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited, said the initiative targets the growing youth and female audience following Formula 1. “If more young girls begin to see motorsport as a sport they can actively participate in, we will have achieved something meaningful,” he added.
The F1® Sim Racing India Open forms part of MFRL’s broader F1® India Programme, which includes grassroots initiatives such as the Flagship Partner School programme to introduce students to motorsport.
