McLaren will enter the second season of the Formula 1 Esports Series, which starts on 13 April.

The online competition will see the teams who participate in the 2018 FIA Formula 1 World Championship set up their own esports teams to compete in the F1 Esports Series 2018.

This season will be split in two parts. In the first, online racers will be offered the incredible opportunity to earn a place on the official esports driver line up for a number of F1 teams.

McLaren is among eight other F1 teams who will be offering positions in their esports driver line ups as part of the series.

The new season of the F1 Esports Series will see the world’s top online racers battle it out on F1 2017, in an effort to win a place in the first ever Pro Draft in July. The Pro Draft is where the official Formula 1 teams involved in the F1 Esports Series will select their drivers for the second part of the season. Every team must select at least one of its drivers from the Pro Draft.

F1 2017 players on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC will be able to enter the first of the four qualifying events from 13 April. The fastest ten players to complete the challenge on each platform will then race off in a live-streamed event final with the top three on each platform qualifying for the Pro Draft.

The official esports drivers will then represent their teams in the second half of the season as they race in the three live events that will determine the 2018 F1 esports Series Teams' and Drivers' World Champions with a prize fund of at least $200,000.

Julian Tan, Head of Digital Growth & F1 esports, Formula 1, said:

"It has always been our goal to get the teams involved as soon as possible and we are delighted that they have recognised the potential of the F1 Esports Series at such an early stage. Last year's series was a great success and demonstrated that there is a clear audience and interest in this innovative, exciting form of racing. We will continue to invest in the esports Series as we feel it is a great way for us to interact and engage with a new audience."

Frank Sagnier, CEO, Codemasters, said:

"Codemasters is extremely proud to be involved in the F1 Esports Series. The quality of the racing we saw during last year's series was spectacular and the integration of the teams for the coming season is going to take the competition and its promotion to the next level. We strongly believe that esports is a platform that allows us to engage with a wide, diverse audience in addition to our traditional gaming community."

Neville Upton, CEO, Gfinity, said:

We are excited to be retained by Formula 1 as the events partner. F1 and Codemasters maximised the true potential last year by fully integrating the F1 Esports Series into the final Grand Prix weekend in Abu Dhabi through both their linear TV partners and streaming platforms and we look forward to building on that success in season two with more events and broadcast opportunities."