India Qualifies for F1 Sim Racing Cup of Nations, Karl Verghese and Siddharth Sathgare to Lead Challenge
India has secured a place in the 18-team international Cup of Nations in Mumbai, with national champion Karl Verghese and runner-up Siddharth Sathgare representing the country against some of the world’s leading sim racers.
India has taken an important step on the international sim racing stage after qualifying for the Cup of Nations, a global competition featuring 18 teams. The championship is being held in Mumbai from November 7 to 9, 2026, and is organised by Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited (MFRL) in partnership with Formula 1.
Karl Verghese and Siddharth Sathgare will represent India in the competition. Their selection follows their performances in the F1 Sim Racing India 2026 Open Category, where Verghese emerged as the national champion and Sathgare finished second.
Karl Verghese Dominates F1 Sim Racing India 2026
Verghese delivered an unbeaten performance across all six races to claim the national title with 150 points. His consistent results placed him comfortably ahead of the other competitors.
Sathgare, also from Mumbai, secured second place with 96 points, while Chennai’s Amith Kutti finished third with 91 points. The three drivers maintained a clear advantage over the rest of the field during the six-race competition.
Verghese’s dominant campaign earned him the opportunity to lead India’s challenge at the international level alongside Sathgare.
India to Face International Sim Racing Talent
The Cup of Nations brings together 18 international teams, including drivers associated with prominent Formula 1 outfits such as Ferrari, Red Bull, Aston Martin and Alpine.
The competition follows a double-elimination format, giving participating teams an opportunity to compete against established international sim racing talent. For the Indian representatives, the event offers an important platform to test their abilities against drivers from across the world.
The championship is being hosted at Mumbai’s NSCI Dome, with fans also able to follow the action through the official YouTube channel of Mumbai Falcons.
Under-15 Category Highlights Emerging Indian Talent
The national championship also showcased promising young racers in the Under-15 category. Ten-year-old Vihaan Joshi from Mumbai claimed the title after winning five of the six races.
Agastya Ivan Crasto, also representing Mumbai, finished second, while Hridaan Sanadhya from Pune secured third place. Indian cricketers Shardul Thakur and Angkrish Raghuvanshi attended the event and presented prizes to the podium finishers in both categories.
Building India’s Sim Racing Future
The F1 Sim Racing India Open is part of Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited’s wider effort to develop a sustainable talent pipeline for Indian motorsport. Through its ‘One in a Billion’ initiative, MFRL aims to make motorsport more accessible, identify promising racers and create structured opportunities for their development.
With Verghese and Sathgare representing the country at the Cup of Nations, India gets an opportunity to strengthen its presence in the growing world of competitive sim racing.
