Ten races are complete, six remain – and the battle for the 2026 VFC Drivers’ Championship could hardly be closer. Just three points separate championship leader Tom Oldenmenger and Sven Schubert heading into the decisive stage of the season. Behind them, Fabian Walter, Heiko Kolvenbach and Benjamin Gielczynski remain mathematically in contention, but the gaps already make one thing clear: realistically, the championship is developing into a two-driver fight between VEGA and

Even during the summer break, things are anything but quiet in the VFC paddock. The first major decisions for 2027 are being made, while several sporting questions are already beginning to shape the second half of the current season. From Fabian Szyrzik’s move to Optiminal and the open futures of Tim Hauck and Horizon Motorsport to Sven Schubert missing the Belgian Grand Prix and the growing importance of engine management, here are the latest stories from the Virtual Formula

Optiminal Esports has answered one of the most exciting personnel questions ahead of the 2027 VFC season: Fabian Szyrzik will move from Horizon Motorsport to Optiminal Esports for the upcoming campaign. Following the announced departure of Heiko Kolvenbach, Optiminal has filled one of the most sought-after cockpits in the entire VFC field. With Szyrzik, the team is not only bringing in an experienced driver, but also a strong technical mind. Alongside his experience on track,

Part 1 of our VFC Mid-Season Report focused on the teams sitting 13th through seventh in the Constructors' Championship. Now it is time to turn our attention to the top six. And the stories could hardly be more different. A former championship leader has suffered a dramatic decline, several teams are locked in a close fight for third, one newcomer has massively exceeded expectations – and at the very front, Optiminal Esports continues to set the standard. The grades follow th

Ten races are in the books and six remain – the 2026 VFC season has already passed its halfway point and is heading into its decisive phase following the Austrian Grand Prix. That makes it the perfect time for a first assessment of how each team has performed so far. The Constructors' Championship standings alone do not tell the full story. Expectations heading into the season, the potential of each car and, where possible, a comparison with the same point of the 2025 campaig

The VFC may currently be in its summer break, but the paddock is anything but quiet. With the 2027 driver market beginning to take shape, several names have already emerged at the centre of the latest speculation. From possible moves involving Tim Hauck, Heiko Kolvenbach and Jan Wiegels to teams stepping up their preparations for next season, here are the latest stories from around the Virtual Formula Championship. Hauck in talks with Blue Horns Tim Hauck’s options for the 20

Spinardi is set for a complete fresh start ahead of the 2027 VFC season. The team will not only undergo major personnel changes, but will also compete under a new name: Spinardi will become the Smile Power Racing Team. There will also be a change at the top of the team. James Andrews will take over the team principal role from Daniel Scott for the upcoming season, while also continuing behind the wheel himself. Alongside him, Mike Bell will take over the second car. With that

Rookie Monsters has officially confirmed its driver line-up for the 2027 VFC season: Daniel Scott will take over the vacant second cockpit and race alongside team principal and driver Robin Moelling. Following the upcoming departure of Chris Gitsov, Rookie Monsters had an important personnel decision to make. With Scott, the team brings in a driver who not only has experience, but is also likely to provide plenty of talking points. For Rookie Monsters, it is also a return, as

Rookie Monsters will see a change in its driver line-up at the end of the current VFC season: Chris Gitsov will leave the team after this season. It marks the end of a partnership that played an important role in Rookie Monsters’ debut campaign — not least because of the team’s first victory in the VFC. Gitsov himself reflected honestly on the current situation and his role within the team: "I myself wasn't particularly useful as a teammate so in a way it was to be expected t

Tim Hauck will leave Ottimale EM at the end of the season! The decision was made by Hauck himself. After his time with Ottimale EM, the German driver wants to take on a new challenge and make the next step in his VFC career. For Ottimale EM, this decision means far more than just an open cockpit for the upcoming season. Hauck’s departure is a painful loss for the team, which is not only losing a driver, but also an important part of its current season. His work on track, his

A bombshell at the end of the first part of the summer break: Heiko Kolvenbach will leave Optiminal Esports after this season. The decision was made by Kolvenbach himself, who wants to take on a new challenge after his time with Optiminal Esports. For Optiminal, his departure means far more than just the loss of a driver. It is also a major personnel decision with significant implications. With Kolvenbach’s exit, one of the most sought-after cockpits in the entire VFC field w

Four races are done, the spring break has arrived – and that makes it the perfect time for the next early assessment. In Part 6 of our big team check, we focus on Razor GP and Optiminal Esports, two teams looking at the top of the championship from completely different angles in 2026. Razor GP: From last year’s benchmark to a project surrounded by questions The difference compared to 2025 is immediately striking at Razor GP. 29 points instead of 86, no win, no podium, and onl

Four races are done, the spring break has arrived – and that makes it the perfect time for the next early assessment. In Part 5 of our big team check, we focus on Falcon Simracing and Blue Horns Racing, two teams whose decline compared to 2025 may have different explanations, but is impossible to ignore on paper. Falcon Simracing: A decline with context – and a team in a transition year At first glance, the comparison with 2025 looks brutal for Falcon Simracing. 25 points ins

Four races are done, the spring break has arrived – and that makes it the perfect time for the next early assessment. In Part 4 of our big team check, we focus on Rookie Monsters and Ottimale EM, two teams that have moved into the spotlight in very different ways during the opening phase of the season. Team Rookie Monsters: Between setbacks and the defining moment in Suzuka Rookie Monsters are one of the most fascinating examples of how quickly the picture of an early season

Four races are done, the spring break has arrived – and that makes it the perfect time for the next round of assessment. In Part 3 of our big team check, we turn our attention to three established names on the grid: SVL Racing, Arrow Racing and Simspark Racing. Three teams, three very different situations – and yet for all of them, the coming weeks are likely to define the direction of their season. SVL Racing: Still solid – but the big step forward never came SVL Racing are

Four races are done, the spring break has arrived – and that makes it the perfect time for an initial assessment. In this edition of our big team check, we focus on two more new names on the grid: Spinardi and Seawolf NetRace Motorsport. Both teams have had a difficult start to the 2026 season so far, but with Montreal approaching, the picture may soon begin to change. Spinardi: Limited returns, but the first encouraging signs are there Spinardi’s start to the season does not

Four races have been completed, the spring break has arrived – and that makes it the perfect time for a first real assessment. In our big team check, we compare each team’s development to where they stood in 2025. In Part 1, however, we first turn our attention to two of the new names on the grid: VEGA and Horizon Motorsport. VEGA: The strong newcomer still waiting for that first win What VEGA have delivered in the opening four races deserves the highest respect. 58 points, f