Karl Verghese crowned as the Open Category National Champion at F1 Sim Racing India 2026
India secures place in Cup of Nations and is set to compete against 18 international teams
India marked a significant milestone in its motorsport journey, earning a place in the Cup of Nations, which will see 18 international teams compete for the global championship in Mumbai from November 7 to November 9, 2026, organised by Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited (MFRL) in partnership with Formula 1. Representing the country on this prestigious international platform will be Karl Verghese and Siddharth Sathgare, following Karl Verghese's crowning as the National Champion in the Open Category at the F1 Sim Racing India 2026.
Verghese finished with 150 points, while fellow Mumbaikar Siddharth Sathgare secured second place with 96 points and Chennai’s Amith Kutti finished third with 91 points. The podium finishers maintained their distance from the rest of the pack throughout the six-race competition, with an intense contest between them. However, Karl remained unbeaten across all six races to establish his dominance in the category.
In the Under-15 category, 10-year-old Vihaan Joshi from Mumbai was crowned champion after winning five of the six races. Agastya Ivan Crasto, also from Mumbai, finished second, while Hridaan Sanadhya from Pune secured third place.
With the national champions crowned, the F1 Sim Racing India Open now moves into its international phase with the Cup of Nations. Karl Varghese and Siddharth Sathgare will represent India against a field comprising 18 teams of the world’s top sim racing divers, many of whom are part of F1 Sim Racing outfits including Ferrari, Aston Martin, Red Bull, and Alpine. The competition will follow a double-elimination format, providing Indian racers an opportunity to test themselves against established international talent. The F1 Sim Racing India Open is part of MFRL’s larger ambition to build a sustainable talent pipeline for Indian motorsport. Through its One in a Billion initiative, MFRL aims to make the sport more accessible, identify promising talent, and create structured opportunities for Indian racers.
