MoneyGram Haas F1 Team Esports announces all-new driver line-up
November 22, 2023
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team Esports is proud to announce an all-new driver line-up for the 2023/24 F1 Sim Racing World Championship, featuring a roster of young and exciting talent, all looking to make their mark in the most competitive season-to-date.
Alfie Butcher (16), Bence Szabó-Kónyi (18), and Ulaş Özyildirim (18) will represent the American team in their latest Esports campaign, which will see the return of in-person LAN racing over 12 rounds at five live events, concluding at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March 2024.
Starting this Friday, November 24, MoneyGram Haas F1 Team Esports, supported by R8G Esports – who will manage operations and provide expert guidance and support, will tackle the Bahrain and Silverstone circuits.
The youngest driver competing in this year’s championship, Alfie Butcher lives only 30 minutes away from the team’s UK HQ in Oxfordshire, and is already a name many are looking forward to watching this season. Butcher is the reigning F1 Esports Challengers Champion (PC), following an impressive display of dominance, and previously held the 2022 PSGL PC F2 Championship title.
Bence Szabó-Kónyi, from Hungary, is a known name in the F1 Esports arena, spending multiple years building up experience and points in the F1 Esports Challenger Series, before being promoted to a race seat this season.
The third and final new recruit for this season is Ulaş Özyildirim, from Turkey. The 2023 F1 Esports Challengers Vice Champion has already made a name for himself in his relatively short Esports career, competing in 90 races, amassing 19 wins and 48 podiums.
Alfie Butcher, MoneyGram Haas F1 Team Esports driver, said: “Driving for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team Esports is a pleasure and a very proud moment for myself. I’m grateful for this opportunity and will make sure to maximize it and get the best out of the car on track. Everyone behind the scenes at Haas has been working extremely hard to optimize our chances for the season, and it’s now coming up to the time when we need to display it in our driving and pick up the results we all desire.”
Bence Szabó-Kónyi, MoneyGram Haas F1 Team Esports driver, said: “I feel excited, it’s the first time I’m getting such an opportunity, so I’ll try to make the best out of it. Ahead of my first race, I hope I get some racing opportunities to make an impact during my Esports debut. It’s a big milestone for me and it’s a great pathway to real-life racing and great entertainment.”
Ulaş Özyildirim, MoneyGram Haas F1 Team Esports driver, said: “I started sim racing in 2019 when the pandemic first hit. I saw a Formula 1 race on TV and I wanted to try it out and bought the F1 2018 game, and after some hours on the keyboard, I bought a gamepad and joined a league. After that, the passion just kept on growing and now I’m here in one of the biggest sim racing competitions representing a Formula 1 team. I feel very grateful and can’t wait to perform at my best to show what I can do.”
Romain Grosjean, Founder of R8G, said: “I'm delighted to be continuing the journey with Haas for our third season of F1 Esports all together. Every year, the competition is getting stronger and stronger, but we keep trying to find new talents, develop them and, of course, achieve the best possible results like we did last year with a strong P3 in the standings. We can't wait to see this brand-new roster on the track, the youngest of the 23/24 grid.”
Fans can follow the action across a host of platforms – via the official F1 YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch channels, as well as dedicated social media channels.