Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited (MFRL) has named Indian cricketer and Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer as the official brand ambassador for the F1 Program in India.
The F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026, organised under an agreement that allows the Mumbai Falcons the right to organise an official Formula 1-sanctioned sim racing competition, would provide a national competitive platform for developing talent from throughout the country.
The decision underlines the Mumbai Falcons’ effort to develop a sporting culture and infrastructure that transcends all disciplines. Shreyas Iyer has established himself as one of Indian cricket’s most consistent match winners and leaders across all forms. Off the pitch, he occupies a developing niche in young culture, with a following base that goes far beyond traditional cricket supporters. His talents and accomplishments demonstrate great performance, versatility, and a direct link to India’s digital-native sporting age, making him an ideal candidate for the Championship.
“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.
Speaking about the brand ambassadors’ announcement, Ameet Gadhoke, Managing Director, Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited, 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 battled on F1 25, the official game of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, which uses the same tracks, competition formats, and team liveries as the world series. Registration will begin on April 30, 2026, using the MFRL App, which is available on the Play Store and the Apple App Store. Participants will be able to compete on PC, PS5, and Xbox. The online qualifiers in the coming months will be followed by city-based simulator rounds, culminating in a national final in Mumbai in November. The planned endeavour is the organization’s most ambitious countrywide operation to date, with the goal of connecting Indian students to a global-format competition via a clearly defined road.
