Why Abt's deception left Audi with no choice

All of the sim racing series that have been set up in recent times came with good intentions. They offer fans some form of motorsport to tide them over during the current coronavirus-enforced pause.

But precisely because they're virtual competitions, each has taken on a whole load of flack. That's understandable as Esports is nowhere near as emotive or entertaining as real-world motorsport. It's a natural outcome when the stakes are so much lower.

As such, each video game-based series has needed to be squeaky clean to come out with any tangible glory in the face of oft-overpowering social media barrages. Yes, more attention and coverage comes from indiscretions and controversy, but it gives sceptics easy roam to shout their grievances.

When motorsport gets back to 'normal', whatever form that might take, what will people remember of the various Esports series? Sadly, it won't be the entertainment offered by Charles Leclerc or Lando Norris as they streamed to their fans.

Nor will it be any of the battles for position between F1 drivers and random celebrities - including footballers Thibaut Courtois, Sergio Aguero and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - in F1's Virtual Grand Prix series.

It won't even be any of the clumsy Turn 1 pile-ups.

Instead, the main takeaways will be Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud's pre-meditated move to wipe out McLaren Formula 1 driver Norris.

We'll remember the racial slur blurted out by NASCAR Cup driver Kyle Larson that led to his suspension and eventual sacking from Chip Ganassi Racing.

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And when the Formula E season resumes, with a new team-mate for Lucas di Grassi at Audi, we'll remember the time Daniel Abt employed a professional sim racer to fill his place in the online Berlin E-Prix.

Esports has seemingly brought out the worst in several big-name drivers.

If it is 'only' a virtual racing series created to pass the time, has Audi been too harsh to drop Abt? After all, he was disqualified from the race in question, banned from continuing in the FE Race at Home Challenge and he was fined €10,000 - which will be donated to a charity of his choosing.

The humanitarian aspect of it all likely wasn't on Abt's mind when he called up sim racer Lorenz Hoerzing to replace him. But his actions have gone some way to blemishing the benevolent intentions of the entire competition

Problem one is that he does indeed drive for Audi. The manufacturer's brand recognition is enormous, and in some small way Abt has tarnished that - for which there has to be some punishment.

The parent Volkswagen Group was dragged through the mud in the wake of the emissions scandal and so it's been on a recent quest to clear its conscience. One-by-one, each of its motorsport programmes that relied on the internal combustion engine has been ceased - most recently, the announcement that Audi will exit the DTM at the end of 2020.

Even if Abt appears as a footnote for such an automotive leviathan - one that delivered 10.8 million cars last year - his actions only add to the negative headlines, something that won't impress a board.

Second, the Race at Home Challenge followed a partnership between FE and UNICEF to raise money for the charity's coronavirus relief efforts. The Esports series was a form of light entertainment to promote the efforts needed to minimise the impact that COVID-19 will have on families below the poverty line and the loss of education that has come from the closure of schools.

The humanitarian aspect of it all likely wasn't on Abt's mind when he called up sim racer Lorenz Hoerzing to replace him. But his actions have gone some way to blemishing the benevolent intentions of the competition. For this, there had to be consequences.

Then you must consider that Hoerzing didn't have a quiet race. He made repeated contact with early race leader Stoffel Vandoorne, which led to both running wide and the Mercedes driver losing out on his maiden victory in the series to Oliver Rowland. Abt's doppelganger changed the outcome of the race, which is simply unfair.

Esports has also been a platform to launch the career of professional drivers, most notably current Super GT pilot Jann Mardenborough. Similarly, the winner of the parallel Challenge grid championship for sim racers will earn a real-world FE car test later this year. It is, therefore, a serious arena of competition, and Abt has undermined this aspect as well.

Abt - who won two real-life FE races in Mexico and, incidentally, Berlin - issued an apology to his fans, team, FE and to his fellow drivers. His statement read: "I would like to apologise to Formula E, all of my fans, my team and my fellow drivers for having called in outside help during the race on Saturday.

"I did not take it as seriously as I should have. I am especially sorry about this because I know how much work has gone into this project on the part of the Formula E organisation.

"I am aware that my offence has a bitter aftertaste, but it was never meant with any bad intention.

"Of course, I accept my disqualification from the race."

However, it was seen as insufficient recompense and he now been suspended with immediate effect by Audi. As Autosport understands, this means he will lose his FE seat for good. His position in the team wasn't helped by that fact that Abt had continually been re-signed to Audi each season on a rolling one-year deal.

In the first instance, that doesn't signal much in the way of security based purely on his FE results. It also makes it less awkward for Audi to search for other drivers to fill the now-vacant seat following any such incident.

If Audi follows the trend of its sister company Porsche and looks to find new outlets for the drivers left without seats after the demise of one of its motorsports programmes, Abt's position was already shaky at best

After five races of the current 2019-20 FE season, Abt languishes 17th in the championship courtesy of just the one points finish, a sixth place in the second Diriyah race. Stablemate di Grassi, meanwhile, is a comparatively lofty fifth.

If Audi follows the trend of its sister company Porsche and looks to find new outlets for the drivers left without seats after the demise of one of its motorsports programmes, Abt's position was already shaky at best.

Suddenly, two-time DTM champion Rene Rast - who made one FE start for Team Aguri in FE's first season - has been given a clear window of opportunity.

While it's no excuse for his actions, however, on balance Abt's controversy is nowhere near as morally deplorable as Larson's utterance. He will still face torment and personal abuse on social media, such is the depressing trend, that will be well out of proportion. For that, there has to be some sympathy - even if you think he's right to lose his Audi seat.