Pierre Gasly, training in Dubai, offers Virtual GP advice to Stuart Broad and Alessio Romagnoli

French driver has opted to spend the lockdown working on his fitness in the UAE

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, November 29, 2019.  
Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
--  Pierre Gasly from Scuderia Toro Rosso and partner arrive at the track.
Victor Besa / The National
Section:  SP
Reporter:  Simon Wilgress-Pipe
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As professional sport remains in lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic, many athletes have turned to virtual tournaments to keep busy.

Formula One races are the popular choice among many at this time as drivers from the F1 grid and athletes from other sports swap their clubs, bats, balls, rackets, and boots for racing simulators.

Scuderia AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly has shunned the chance to take his place on the virtual grid, preferring instead to work on his fitness in Dubai.

However, the Frenchman, not wanting his knowledge of the race tracks to go to waste, has offered his advice to two sportsmen set to race at Sao Paulo's Interlagos track during a Virtual GP.

England cricketer Stuart Broad and Italy footballer Alessio Romagnoli were the lucky recipients of Gasly's advice, which he imparted through a video released on Scuderia AlphaTauri's social media accounts.

"I just wanted to send a little message ahead of the Formula One Virtual Grand Prix as I am still in Dubai and don't have my simulator with me, so I won't be able to participate," Gasly, 24, said.

"But I just wanted to wish good luck to Alessio and Stuart while jumping in the cars for the races this weekend and to give them some advice about the Sao Paulo track."

Gasly then proceeds to take viewers through a lap of Interlagos and explains the most effective way to navigate the track in the video below.

The 2020 Formula One season is yet to get underway as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. So far, 10 races have been either cancelled or postponed, with F1 targeting a start at the Austrian Grand Prix on July 5.

A few adjustments to the schedule means the Bahrain Grand Prix will now take place toward the end of the season, with the finale in Abu Dhabi pushed to the start of December.