Pune's Hridaan Sanadhya Finishes Third at the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026, Under-15 National Finals
Pune's Hridaan Sanadhya made the Under-15 podium at the first F1 Sim Racing India Open, held at the NSCI Dome, Mumbai. Mumbai's 10-year-old Vihaan Joshi won the title and Agastya Ivan Crasto finished second.
By Sham Rathi ·
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A young racer from Pune has made the podium at India's first official Formula 1 sim racing championship. Hridaan Sanadhya finished third in the Under-15 category of the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026, whose National Finals were held at the NSCI Dome in Mumbai on 6 November 2026.
The title went to Vihaan Joshi, a 10-year-old from Mumbai, who won five of the six races. Agastya Ivan Crasto, also from Mumbai, was second.
How the finals worked
The India Open is organised by Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited (MFRL) in partnership with Formula 1. After qualifying rounds across the country, 20 young drivers reached the Under-15 National Finals. They raced on simulator versions of six circuits from the current F1 calendar: Albert Park (Australia), Bahrain, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Canada), Barcelona-Catalunya (Spain), Hermanos Rodriguez (Mexico) and Yas Marina (Abu Dhabi).
Under-15 top 5
| Position | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vihaan Joshi (Mumbai) | 134 |
| 2 | Agastya Ivan Crasto (Mumbai) | 108 |
| 3 | Hridaan Sanadhya (Pune) | 76 |
| 4 | Yuvaan Ahirao | 75 |
| 5 | Aarav Gupta | 67 |
From simulator to real racing
The Under-15 championship is part of MFRL's "One in a Billion" programme to find Indian racing talent. The best junior racers can move on to MFRL's karting programme, a path from sim racing to real motorsport. The long-term aim is to help India produce a Formula 1 driver in the coming decade.
The top two drivers of the senior Open category will represent India at the Cup of Nations, an international team sim racing event from 7 to 9 November 2026.
Questions and answers
Who won the Under-15 title at the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026?
Vihaan Joshi, a 10-year-old from Mumbai, with 134 points. Agastya Ivan Crasto of Mumbai was second and Hridaan Sanadhya of Pune was third.
Where did Pune's Hridaan Sanadhya finish at the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026?
Third in the Under-15 category, with 76 points, at the National Finals at the NSCI Dome, Mumbai, on 6 November 2026.
Who organises the F1 Sim Racing India Open?
Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited (MFRL), in partnership with Formula 1.
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