Daniel Abt fired by Audi for cheating in sim racing
The Audi Formula E team has parted ways with German driver Daniel Abt. He had cheated during an e-sport race by having a professional gamer race in his place.
Audi doesn’t joke around with cheaters. The German team, present in Formula E, did not hesitate to fire Daniel Abt for cheating in a video game.
On Sunday, May 23, the German driver participated with other competitors in the electric series in an e-sport race. It aimed to raise funds for UNICEF. After the race, several drivers doubted his actual participation, given his performance. Stoffel Vandoorne, who ultimately finished second in the race after a battle with the Audi No. 66, said, “I don’t believe Daniel.”
Formula E conducted an investigation by checking his IP address and concluded that it couldn’t have been Daniel Abt behind the wheel. He actually had an 18-year-old professional e-sports player race in his place. Disqualified, the German was fined ten thousand euros, which was donated to a charity.
The story could have ended there. But Audi believed that the driver’s lack of integrity did not align with the brand’s values, which itself has been involved since 2015 in the Dieselgate scandal: « We remain true to our culture of tolerance for mistakes. But what happened during this sim racing event was not a mistake. It was a deliberate decision to break the rules. Therefore, we have no choice but to dismiss him. »
The decision does not please everyone.
An overreaction? That is what the two-time French Formula E world champion Jean-Eric Vergne thinks: « After all, it’s a game that should be taken seriously, but it’s a GAME. What to think of drivers who crash deliberately, which would cost them their license in reality? »
Present in Formula E since the series began in 2014, initially with a team in his name and then with the official Audi team, Daniel Abt has two victories to his name.
