Brendon Leigh: Age, F1 Esports Success and Racing Career

Introduction

Brendon Leigh is a British sim racer, racing coach, content creator and real-world Formula Ford driver. He is best known for becoming the first Formula 1 Esports Series world champion in 2017.

He proved that his first victory was not a lucky result. Leigh returned in 2018, joined Mercedes and won the championship for a second consecutive year.

His journey is unusual because he became a world champion before gaining meaningful experience behind the wheel of a real racing car. He later used his esports success to enter Formula Ford and compete in Race of Champions events.

Like Wolfe Glick’s competitive gaming success, Leigh’s story shows that video games can demand serious planning, concentration and professional skill.

Brendon Leigh Quick Facts

Who Is Brendon Leigh?

Brendon Leigh is one of the most important early competitors in Formula 1 esports.

He entered the first Formula One Esports Series in 2017 and beat 19 other finalists. His victory made him the first official world champion in the competition’s history.

That achievement immediately introduced Leigh to an international audience. He was no longer simply a talented player competing from home. He had become a recognised professional in a championship connected directly to Formula 1.

His success helped demonstrate that sim racing requires quick reactions, strategy, emotional control and a deep understanding of racing.

Readers interested in the traditional side of Formula One can also explore Alan Permane’s long F1 engineering career.

Brendon Leigh’s Age and Date of Birth

Brendon Leigh was born in 1999, but trustworthy public sources disagree about his exact birth date.

Several published profiles give his birthday as July 8, 1999. However, Formula 1’s official 2025 driver list recorded it as August 7, 1999.

This may be the result of the day and month being reversed. Until Leigh or an authoritative personal record confirms the correct date, it is safer to present both dates.

He is therefore either 26 or 27 years old as of July 15, 2026.

Publishers should not select one date without explaining this conflict.

Where Is Brendon Leigh From?

Leigh is British and comes from Reading in Berkshire, England.

His professional career later took him into international competitions. He raced at esports events linked with Formula 1 Grands Prix and represented major motorsport names, including Mercedes and Ferrari.

During his Ferrari esports period, public reporting also placed him in Italy. However, his present home has not been clearly confirmed through a dependable public source.

How Did Brendon Leigh Start Sim Racing?

Detailed information about Leigh’s childhood and education remains limited. His public story mainly begins with his arrival in the first F1 Esports competition.

Unlike many racing drivers, Leigh did not build his career through karting and junior single-seater championships. His main opportunity came through the official Formula 1 video game.

He qualified for the 2017 Formula One Esports Series and reached its Grand Final in Abu Dhabi. The competition brought together 20 of the strongest qualifying players.

Leigh’s ability to remain calm under pressure became an important part of his success. He later explained that having the right mindset helped him control his emotions during the final.

His path shares a theme with Justin Champagnie’s rise from an undrafted player to the NBA: both used an uncertain opportunity to enter a major professional competition.

First F1 Esports World Championship

Brendon Leigh’s breakthrough came on November 25, 2017.

The championship final took place in the Formula 1 paddock during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. Leigh won four of the five races used in the final stage, including the British, Brazilian, Canadian and Abu Dhabi events.

Formula 1 officially announced him as the first Formula 1 Esports Series world champion.

He completed the championship with 74 points. He had entered the competition as a relatively unknown player but left Abu Dhabi with a historic title.

After winning, Leigh described the feeling as unreal. He also spoke about the importance of staying calm while competing against the other finalists.

Joining Mercedes

The F1 Esports competition developed into a team-based championship in 2018. Leigh joined Mercedes-AMG Petronas Esports alongside Hungarian driver Daniel Bereznay.

The move gave him support from one of the biggest names in motorsport. It also increased expectations because he was now defending his title as part of an official Formula 1 organisation.

Leigh responded with another dominant season.

He won six races and scored 216 points. His victories came in Australia, China, France, Great Britain, Singapore and the United States.

His performance also helped Mercedes win the first F1 Esports Teams’ Championship.

Second Consecutive World Title

Leigh secured his second Drivers’ Championship in 2018 with one race still remaining.

He finished 50 points ahead of Mercedes teammate Daniel Bereznay. Formula 1’s official championship report confirmed that Leigh won the drivers’ title while Mercedes captured the teams’ crown.

More than 66,000 players had entered the 2018 qualification process. This made Leigh’s second title an important achievement in a rapidly growing global competition.

Winning in consecutive seasons established him as the first dominant driver of the F1 Esports era.

Brendon Leigh’s Career After His Championships

Leigh remained with Mercedes for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

His results became less dominant as the competition grew stronger. New drivers arrived, and other teams invested more heavily in their esports programmes.

He finished fifth in 2019 with 77 points. In 2020, he scored 84 points and ended the season in sixth position.

Although he did not win another championship, he remained a respected competitor and continued reaching the podium.

Professional sport often forces successful competitors to adapt when younger rivals and new methods appear. James Hanson’s football journey offers another example of a sporting career shaped by changing opportunities and difficult challenges.

Move From Mercedes to Ferrari

Leigh made one of the biggest moves in F1 esports history in January 2021.

After several seasons with Mercedes, he joined the Ferrari Driver Academy Esports Team. He became the teammate of David Tonizza, the 2019 world champion.

It was the first time two former F1 Esports champions had been brought together in the same team.

Leigh finished tenth in the 2021 standings with 42 points. He improved in 2022, scoring 49 points and finishing eighth. His strongest result that season was a podium at the virtual Circuit of the Americas.

The Ferrari period did not produce another world title, but it added an important chapter to his career.

KICK F1 Sim Racing Team

Leigh later joined the team connected with Alfa Romeo, Sauber and KICK.

He competed for KICK F1 Sim Racing Team during the 2023–24 season. He scored 47 points, earned one podium and finished tenth in the championship.

Leigh returned with KICK for the 2025 season, driving with his familiar number 72. It proved to be a difficult final campaign. He scored one point and finished twentieth.

He subsequently ended his full-time career in the F1 Sim Racing World Championship.

Brendon Leigh’s F1 Esports Record

The following results are supported by published season records:

Published databases disagree about his complete number of starts and wins because some count the inaugural 2017 competition differently.

However, his first two seasons produced a clear total of 10 race victories: four in 2017 and six in 2018.

His two world championships remain his greatest esports achievements.

Move Into Real-World Racing

One of the most surprising parts of Leigh’s story is that he became an esports world champion before learning to drive a real racing car at speed.

In early 2018, he prepared for the eRace of Champions by driving an Ariel Atom, a Caterham and a BMW M4 at Bedford Autodrome.

He also followed a programme involving physical training, nutrition and mental preparation. The experience helped him understand how real driving differs from racing on a simulator.

The eRace of Champions in Riyadh combined virtual racing with physical driving challenges. Leigh returned as one of the eROC finalists in Mexico in 2019.

Formula Ford Career

Leigh made his single-seater racing debut in the 2019 BRSCC National Formula Ford 1600 Championship.

He drove a Spectrum 011C for Kevin Mills Racing and used number 72. Formula Ford cars have limited aerodynamic support, so drivers must develop strong control, confidence and mechanical understanding.

Leigh entered the championship on a part-time basis because of his esports commitments. His progress impressed team boss Kevin Mills, while BRSCC coverage noted his quiet determination.

He ended his 2019 appearances with a sixth-place finish at Croft.

Leigh returned for another Formula Ford event at Brands Hatch in 2021. After more than four years away from a racing car, he entered the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone in 2025 and reached the final.

Brendon Leigh Setups and Coaching

After stepping away from full-time championship competition, Leigh continued using his experience through coaching and digital products.

He created Brendon Leigh Setups, a service offering tested car setups for racing games. These packages can cover qualifying, races, wet weather and changing track conditions.

A setup changes how a virtual car responds. It may adjust tyre pressures, suspension, aerodynamics, brakes and transmission settings.

Leigh also offers coaching designed to help players understand their mistakes and improve their lap times.

Building this service allowed him to turn years of competitive knowledge into a business. His transition from specialist skill to entrepreneurship has similarities with Torsten Reil’s technology and business journey, although the two work in very different industries.

YouTube and Online Presence

Leigh operates a YouTube channel focused on racing games and driver improvement.

His content includes:

• F1 game setups
• iRacing videos
• Open-lobby races
• Coaching advice
• Driving guides
• Live streams
• Race reactions

His channel had approximately 43,000 subscribers and more than 900 videos when checked in July 2026. These figures can change regularly.

His known public accounts include:

• YouTube: @BrendonLeigh
• Instagram: @brendonleigh
• X: @BrendonLeigh72

Brendon Leigh’s Book

In 2026, Leigh announced a book titled It Was Never About Winning.

He described it as an autobiographical account of his personal journey through F1 Sim Racing. The book gives him an opportunity to explain the pressure, success and challenges behind his public racing results.

Only limited independent publication information was available at the time of research, so further claims about its sales or commercial success would be premature.

What Is Brendon Leigh Doing Now?

As of July 2026, Leigh is no longer a full-time F1 Sim Racing World Championship driver.

He remains active through racing-game content, coaching and his setup business. His public professional profiles also describe him as an ambassador connected with the Scuderia Ferrari HP Esports Team.

He has continued showing interest in real-world Formula Ford competition following his 2025 Walter Hayes Trophy return.

Why Is Brendon Leigh Famous?

Brendon Leigh is famous for three main reasons:

1. He became the first Formula One Esports Series world champion.
2. He won the championship again in 2018.
3. He moved from virtual racing into real Formula Ford competition.

His success arrived during the early development of official Formula 1 esports. This gave him an important place in the competition’s history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Brendon Leigh?

Brendon Leigh is a British former professional F1 esports driver, two-time world champion, racing coach and Formula Ford competitor.

How old is Brendon Leigh?

He is 26 or 27 as of July 15, 2026. Public sources disagree over whether he was born on July 8 or August 7, 1999.

Where was Brendon Leigh born?

He was born in Reading, Berkshire, England.

What is Brendon Leigh famous for?

He is best known for winning the first Formula One Esports Series world title in 2017 and defending it in 2018.

How many world championships did Brendon Leigh win?

He won two F1 Esports Drivers’ Championships.

Which teams did Brendon Leigh race for?

His major teams included Mercedes-AMG Petronas Esports, Ferrari Driver Academy Esports and KICK F1 Sim Racing Team.

Did Brendon Leigh race real cars?

Yes. He competed in Formula Ford and participated in Race of Champions events involving real cars.

What number did Brendon Leigh use?

He used driver number 72.

Is Brendon Leigh still competing in F1 esports?

He ended his full-time F1 Sim Racing World Championship driving career after the 2025 season.

Does Brendon Leigh offer coaching?

Yes. He provides sim-racing coaching and sells racing-game setups.

Conclusion

Brendon Leigh helped shape the beginning of professional Formula 1 esports.

He entered the first championship as a little-known British player and left as its first world champion. His second consecutive title with Mercedes confirmed that he possessed exceptional speed, preparation and mental control.

Although he did not win another championship, he represented Mercedes, Ferrari and KICK across eight seasons. He also crossed from virtual racing into Formula Ford, showing that sim-racing skills can create opportunities in physical motorsport.

Today, Leigh continues sharing his experience through coaching, setups and online content. His place as F1 Esports’ first champion remains secure.