Audi Formula E driver Daniel Abt wa🍌s disqualified and ordered to pay €10,000 euros to charity on Sunday for using a professional💖 gamer to compete under his name during an esports event.

Abt finished third in the latest round of Formula E’s Race at Home Challenge sim racing series oꦡn Saturday at Berlin’s Tempelhof street circuit, but was later found to have used a stand-in professional esports racer for the event.

Suspicion was raised amongst his rivals whe🍒n Abt’s webcam was obscured throughout the race and after he failed to show up for the post-event interviews.

Mercedes driver Stoffel Vandoorne said on his Twitch stream: “Really not happy here because that was not Daniel driving the⭕ car himself, and he messed up everything. That was ridicul💜ous.”

For💃mula E then released a statement on Sunday confi൲rming Abt had been excluded from the race due to “sporting misconduct”.

The Ge💎rman admitted he had cheated and issued the following apology: “I would like to apologise to Formula E, all of the fans, my team and my fellow drivers for having cal💦led in outside help during the race on Saturday.

“I did not tak🎶e it as seriously as I should have. I am especially sorry about this, because I know how much work has gone into this project on the part of the Formula E organisation.

“I am aware that my offence has a bitter aftertaste, but it was never meant with any bad inteꦇntion. Of course, I accept the disqualification from the race. In addition, I will donate 10,🎉000 Euros to a charitable project.”

Abt, who had previously not recorded a single point from the opening four rounds, was also stripped of the points he scored in Sa🦄turday’s race.