F1 25 Review

Last year, F1 24 had a shocking entry to the F1 series. Instead of improving F1 23, Codemasters only delivered the visual upgrades that didn't please the series fans much. Just like every year, they are back again with another Formula 1 video game for this season, promising the most immersive and authentic experience to date.

This time, however, there are a few enhancements to the My Team mode that grant you greater control over your off-track dynasty. A host of audio and visual refinements—including laser-scanned tracks—and updated car handling have been crafted in response to community feedback. But the question is, are these enough to please the series fans, especially when the game is priced at $90 this year?

Before being too critical about the negatives, yes, there are some improvements. Multiplayer modes have been expanded, reverse circuits have been thoughtfully implemented, and the new decal editor offers fresh customization potential. With the return of the breaking-narrative story mode, you can expect F1 25 to deliver on its ambition to become the series' finest installment.

The list of features is extensive: deeper team ownership mechanics, visually stunning circuit detail, more nuanced driving physics, and adaptive AI challenges. Your journey through F1 25 will cover every part of the sport, on and off the track, so both new and experienced racers will find a strong reason to keep going. This review will tell you how well each system works, how easy the game is to get into, and if the game lives up to its big promises.

Car physics has been refined through collaboration with professional sim racers, targeting the four pillars of performance: tire behavior, power unit output, aerodynamic balance, and steering feedback. You will notice the difference immediately—through a DualSense controller or a high-end racing wheel, the sensation of braking, cornering, and accelerating feels remarkably accurate to life.

When you brake aggressively, the wheel feedback simulates the tires locking up, and when you trail off the throttle mid-corner, you sense the car's weight shift through the controller's haptics. These enhancements ensure that you can learn to master lock-ups and wheelspin from the very first lap.

Even with these changes, F1 25 is still easy to get into. The mix between realism and playability means you can push the car to its limits without making mistakes too often, and it is too hard to fix. Every spin and oversteer moment teaches you how to improve your driving skills so that you can perform at your best.

Building on the updated physics, F1 25 delivers more authentic driving feedback, even when assists are partially engaged. When you turn off all assists except medium traction control, you experience the thrill of navigating corners on the ragged edge: a light throttle tap can trigger rear-wheel slides, prompting you to adjust your inputs.

Under these settings, F1 25 communicates instantly that a slight misjudgment will cost time without harsh penalties. Gravel traps and grass runoff zones slow you down realistically, yet avoid overly punitive time losses so you stay motivated to refine your lines.

That sense of controlled risk is precisely what makes F1 25's driving feel satisfying: you will sense each camber change, each curb impact, and each aerodynamic shift as you tailor your racing style. The developers have struck a careful balance between authenticity and accessibility. While hardcore sim enthusiasts may crave fully manual setups, you have the option to use medium-level driving assists that prevent overwhelming mistakes.

If you're new to racing and were drawn in by popular culture, these tips will help you focus on learning the basics without getting frustrated. But when you're ready, you can turn them off to see how the car really acts. The F1 25 is good for people of all skill levels because the traction, braking, and steering help can all be fine-tuned. This way, you can feel both challenged and supported as you move through different levels of difficulty.

In F1 25, default car setups cover straight-line speed, cornering grip, and balanced performance. You will find that selecting a premade configuration often yields 90% of peak performance, helping you to get on track quickly. Should you require finer adjustments, the front wing angle tweak provides immediate feedback, allowing you to dial out understeer or reduce rear instability.

F1 25 empowers you to experiment confidently, regardless of your setup experience. This approach democratizes car tuning: you can achieve competitive lap times without a deep engineering background, while seasoned players can still craft custom setups for ultimate precision.

The AI in F1 25 has undergone an overhaul intended to simulate realistic human driving behavior. While ERS deployment shows clear improvement—opponents use battery power strategically—the AI remains overly cautious under braking, making late braking overtakes feel less dynamic than in pro races.

When you approach rivals, they defend primarily by moving to the centerline, which rarely disrupts your momentum. DRS remains extremely powerful, allowing you to overtake AI cars with minimal resistance. You will appreciate the step forward in tactical AI decisions, but to fully capture the volatility of real-world racing, F1 25 will need to introduce more unpredictable mistakes and risk-taking tactics in future updates.

My Team mode receives a significant expansion, granting you complete control over day-to-day operations: recruitment, research, finances, and team morale. You will manage separate R&D tracks, balancing investment between performance upgrades and long-term development.

Decisions directly influence driver satisfaction: allocating a new upgrade to your lead Driver might frustrate your teammate, creating genuine team dynamics. F1 25 delivers a simplified but engaging managerial experience that complements on-track action. If you prefer to skip the ownership layer, you can opt for a traditional career campaign, allowing you to focus solely on driving.

Career mode in F1 25 remains familiar, with options to mix the current grid, F2 talent, Breaking Point protagonists, and movie characters. You can chase championship glory alongside legends, experiencing five newly laser-scanned tracks at launch. The inclusion of iconic drivers and imaginative scenarios ensures career longevity, while the updated My Team keeps your attention off-track, making every lap and every boardroom decision matter.

F1 25 features five fully laser-scanned circuits: Bahrain, Melbourne, Imola, Suzuka, and Miami. You will be awed by the level of detail—from subtle asphalt undulations to precise curb profiles and authentic foliage around the track. Every bump and camber shift is faithfully reproduced, translating directly into driving feedback. This attention to environmental realism sets F1 25 apart from previous editions.

Silverstone, the Red Bull Ring, and Zandvoort are the three tracks that can be set up backward. Each reversed track has its own markings, marshal places, and AI line adjustments to make sure the experience flows smoothly. This new feature adds some new tasks, but you might miss the old-school historical tracks more. Nonetheless, the reverse configurations extend replay value and creative race options.

The new decal editor allows you to apply scalable, rotatable graphics to your livery, adding authentic flair. You will enjoy crafting unique designs for F1 World and My Team modes; however, extending customization to driver overalls would further enhance immersion. As you unlock more decals through racing achievements, the game encourages creativity, making every car feel personalized.

Breaking Point 3 returns, presenting an emotionally engaging narrative that weaves off-track politics with intense racing objectives. You will follow compelling characters and make choices that impact your career path. Some mid-race goals may seem overly ambitious, but the dramatic tension keeps you invested in each twist and turn of the story.

A campaign inspired by the upcoming F1 movie is included, offering introductory scenarios for all players. Those who own the Iconic Edition unlock additional movie-based challenges arriving in post-launch updates on June 30. This integration adds thematic depth, allowing you to relive cinematic moments through your performance.

Online lobbies will fill out over time, but the new Invitationals mode provides structured events where you collaborate with fellow racers to achieve shared goals. Revamped Driver of the Day accolades, cleanest driver rewards, and most overtakes medals encourage respectful, team-oriented racing. You can expect a more community-focused multiplayer environment that rewards skill and fairness.

Ultimately, F1 25 delivers on many of its promises: laser-scanned tracks elevate visual authenticity, enhanced handling provides satisfying feedback, and My Team 2.0 deepens management engagement. AI improvements and reverse circuits offer new experiences, although some features still feel underexplored.

While I had my worries, Codemasters did deliver a decent F1 game this year. By providing a good mix of depth and accessibility and offering various routes to immersive racing, F1 25 is, in the end, a respectable progression of the series. No matter where you're looking, F1 25 feels like your next season will have an official and personal vibe.