HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the best bits from the F1 Esports #ChallengeLando event

While real Formula 1 racing remains on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, online racing is thriving as gamers log on to test their skills against their rivals, and this weekend Lando Norris was taking on all-comers in F1's #ChallengeLando event.

The McLaren driver had to compete in a series of different tasks on Codemasters' F1 2019 game, and after two short races and a qualifying session – all three of which Lando won – he took on his toughest assignment yet, when he competed in a virtual challenge designed to replicate a real life acheivement from the history of F1.

Lando, who had no idea what would be facing him when he joined the session, was tasked with emulating previous McLaren hero Ayrton Senna's performance in the 1988 Japanese Grand Prix when, after starting from pole a poor start put him down in 14th place before the end of the first lap. Thereafter he battled back to win – and take his first world championship title in the process.

Could Lando pull off the same feat on the F1 2019 game? To find out, he lined up against 19 fans from around the globe who had all won the right to race alongside him – all of them running the classic 1998 McLaren car.

Watch the video above to see the highlights – it's fair to say it wasn't all plain sailing for the McLaren star...

READ MORE: Formula 1 launches Virtual Grand Prix Series to replace postponed races