Leclerc wins F1 virtual Chinese Grand Prix

SHANGHAI -- Charles Leclerc, who only started playing the video game at the start of the month, has claimed his second straight Formula One Virtual Grand Prix on the Shanghai track on Sunday.

The Ferrari driver started the Chinese GP in pole position and finished ahead of Red Bull's Alex Albon and Zhou Guanyu, who races in Formula 2.

The actual Chinese GP, originally scheduled for April 19, was postponed in February.

With the F1 season halted by the coronavirus pandemic, the sport launched a virtual series to keep fans entertained.

The F1 world championship has yet to get underway this season due to the spread of the coronavirus. Nine of the scheduled 22 races have either been cancelled or postponed.