F1 25 Review – If you’ve been around the F1 gaming scene long enough, youโve probably noticed a patternโCodemasters’ Formula 1 games tend to hit their stride every other year. Like a car with a temperamental engine, one edition roars, and the next sputters. F1 2021? A fan favorite. F1 22? Letโs not talk about that. F1 23 brought things back on track, and now F1 25 tries to hold that momentum. So, does it?
The short answer: Yes. But it’s not just about flashy updatesโitโs about refinement, smarter design, and finally giving players what theyโve quietly been asking for.
From Pit Lane to Power Plays โ The Evolution of My Team Mode
At the heart of F1 25 is the complete overhaul of the My Team mode. Gone is the simple fantasy of being a driver-owner. Now, you’re stepping into the shoes of a full-blown team principal. Think less Lewis Hamilton, more Toto Wolff.
This new managerial perspective flips the dynamic. Youโre no longer building a team around your custom avatar. Instead, you’re handling two drivers, balancing development, budget constraints, morale, and internal politics. Itโs like juggling grenadesโwith the safety pins halfway pulled.
What makes this shift genuinely engaging isnโt just the added complexityโitโs the emotional tension. Choosing to develop a new part for one car over the other affects how your drivers perform and how they feel about the team. A subtle nod to real-world F1 dynamics, and a clever way of adding drama without a storyline.
Development: More Than Just Numbers
Car development isn’t a straight line anymore. Researching a new part is just step oneโyouโll then need to commit resources to actually build it. Initially, you can only work on one component per category, forcing tough choices about who gets the upgrades and when.
It introduces a layer of strategic depth that My Team previously lacked. You feel like every decision matters, and it often does. Neglect one area, and you might just see your lead driverโs morale plummet. Favor one driver too much? Expect frictionโand a tough conversation or two.
And yes, managing contracts, training, and scouting for talent are all backโthis time tied into a team owner skill tree that actually matters. Want better resource point gains or faster facility upgrades? Train yourself like a manager. Itโs a welcome gamification of what used to be background noise.
Visual Feedback & Immersion – F1 25 Review
Upgrades no longer exist in a vacuum. Your headquarters visually evolves as your team grows. Itโs a small touch, but one that adds a satisfying layer of immersion. Youโre not just looking at spreadsheets anymoreโyouโre watching your empire expand, one wind tunnel at a time.
Sure, the character animations still feel like they belong in 2015, but the intent is there, and it’s appreciated. Maybe the next-gen game engine overhaul will fix that. For now, it’s serviceable.
Handling โ Finally, A Return to Control
On-track performance is where F1 25 really earns its stripes. Last yearโs game was known for its weird handling quirksโcars dancing over curbs like figure skaters and flicking around like they were possessed. Thankfully, F1 25 puts both feet firmly back on the tarmac.
Curb impacts feel punishing again. Traction has weight. Handling on a controller feels refined and more responsive, offering the kind of feedback that doesnโt feel like youโre fighting the car. And while the physics won’t rival iRacing or Assetto Corsa, they hit the sweet spot between realism and fun.
A Subtle Nod to Sim Fans
For the more hardcore players, the depth of development and racing mechanics edges the series closer to being a hybrid between arcade racer and sim management. The line between F1 25 and the now-defunct F1 Manager series is blurrier than everโbut in a good way.
While we still donโt get the full 30-driver Formula 3 lineup (only four rookies made the cut), and while some of the exclusive content is locked behind the pricier Iconic Edition, the additions that are here are meaningful and well-implemented.
Verdict: More Than Just a Patch
F1 25 isnโt revolutionary in the loud, headline-grabbing way. It doesnโt try to wow you with gimmicks. Instead, it quietly fixes what was broken, deepens what was shallow, and redefines what it means to be in charge of a Formula 1 team.
If youโre an old fan tired of stale menus and superficial upgrades, this is the year to come back. And if youโre new to the series, F1 25 might be the most welcomingโand rewardingโentry point yet.
Just be ready to make some tough calls. Your drivers are watching.