Haas has announced that its esports operations, and participation in the 2021 F1 Esports Pro Series, will be managed by Romain Grosjean's burgeoning R8G Esports team.

Grosjean, who made 98 starts for the American team from a total of 179 career Grands Prix, established his esports outfit in April last year, the team quickly growing into a competitive force in the world of sim racing scoring 45 wins and 103 podiums in 2020.

The 34-year-old Frenchman, who was dropped by Haas last year in favour of an all-new, all-rookie line-up is continuing his own racing career this season competing in IndyCar.

R8G Esports currently has 17 pro sim racers and five juniors on its books and is active across all major sim platforms competing on iRacing, rFactor2, RaceRoom, Assetto Corsa as well as Gran Turismo.

"I'm very happy to be managing Uralkali Haas F1 Team's entry this year in the F1 Esports Pro Series through R8G Esports," said the Frenchman who made the headlines around the world last year for all the wrong reasons when he was involved in a horrific crash on the opening lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

"I've been involved in esports for a year now and I believe our team is doing very well. For me, being able to help Haas F1 in this field, and going racing together – well, it's a great story. Obviously, it's a cool continuation of what we built together. So, I'm very much looking forward to the first race and to see what we can build together in esports competition."

"I'm delighted that we get to utilize Romain's enthusiasm for esports and R8G Esports' expertise to oversee our continued participation in the F1 Esports Pro Series," added Guenther Steiner. "It's an important step up for us in terms of our involvement from previous seasons.

"We know we're partnering with a group that truly understands the demands of the esports environment and can help take our program to the next level. We've had some memorable points-earning finishes in past F1 Esports Pro Series and won this season's Virtual Grand Prix Series. It would be fantastic to maintain that form under the guidance of R8G Esports in the F1 Esports Pro Series this season."