The latest installment in Codemasters' officially licensed Formula 1 racing series has arrived, bringing with it a mix of meaningful improvements and concerning signs that the annual franchise may be running out of steam. F1 25, developed by Codemasters and published by EA Sports, represents both the best and most troubling aspects of yearly sports game releases, delivering quality content while struggling to justify its existence as a full-priced sequel.
Braking Point Campaign Delivers Compelling Conclusion
The return of Braking Point stands as F1 25's strongest achievement, offering players a surprisingly engaging narrative that follows the fictional Konnersport racing team through their rise from midfield contenders to championship challengers. This third installment in the story mode trilogy spans approximately 6-9 hours and features exceptional voice acting from a talented cast, bringing genuine emotional weight to the struggles of drivers Aiden Jackson and Callie Mayer. The campaign cleverly doubles as an accessible tutorial system, introducing complex racing concepts like mechanical failures, pit strategies, and team orders in digestible segments. Players can now choose which driver to control during certain chapters, adding replay value and affecting team reputation, performance metrics, and social media perception within the game world.
 |
|---|
| Characters from "F1 25" team prepare for the race, mirroring the narrative of the Braking Point campaign |
My Team 2.0 Brings Much-Needed Management Depth
The overhauled My Team career mode represents a significant step forward for the franchise's management simulation aspects. Players now navigate a more complex balancing act between research and development, budget allocation, and driver morale management. The system splits research and development into separate phases, requiring teams to build upgrade parts after completing research, often forcing difficult decisions about which driver receives new components first. Personnel, engineering, and financial upgrades affect the broader team structure, while fan support levels influence sponsorship negotiations and driver signings. However, the mode suffers from some puzzling limitations, particularly in driver selection, where players can only choose from a randomly generated pool of six Formula 2 drivers regardless of their starting budget.
Technical Improvements Highlight Visual Disparities
F1 25 benefits from current-generation console exclusivity, allowing Codemasters to implement LIDAR scanning technology for five circuits: Albert Park, Suzuka, Bahrain, Miami, and Imola. These laser-scanned tracks display noticeably improved visual fidelity, with more realistic grass textures, detailed curbing, and enhanced trackside elements. Driver models have also received significant upgrades, more closely resembling their real-world counterparts than in previous entries. The game supports advanced graphics features including path-traced lighting for higher-end graphics cards, though this requires hardware more powerful than an RTX 2070 for optimal performance. Unfortunately, the visual improvements create an obvious disparity between LIDAR-scanned and traditional tracks, while some circuits suffer from distracting visual bugs where objects flicker in and out of existence.
 |
|---|
| Intense racing action from "F1 25" illustrates the visual enhancements and dynamic gameplay experience |
Handling Model Changes Create Controller Concerns
Despite addressing previous handling complaints, F1 25 introduces new problems with gamepad control that represent a step backward for the series. The steering input now feels excessively dampened and spongy, particularly when attempting to correct oversteer during high-speed cornering situations. This woolly sensation becomes more pronounced when using traction control assistance, creating a shopping trolley-like handling characteristic that veteran players will find frustrating. The overall driving experience feels heavier than previous entries, requiring more aggressive braking for corners that were previously manageable. While steering wheel users enjoy more precise 1:1 control, the degraded gamepad experience represents a significant issue for the majority of players who rely on controllers.
 |
|---|
| A first-person view from inside a Formula One car captures the driving experience discussed in F1 25 |
Series Fatigue Becomes Increasingly Apparent
Both reviewers noted that F1 25 feels fundamentally similar to entries dating back nearly seven years, with incremental improvements failing to mask the underlying staleness of the formula. The game suffers from uncharacteristic bugs including incorrect radio messages, uneven audio mixing, and subtitle errors that suggest rushed development. New features like reverse track layouts and LIDAR mapping, while technically impressive, don't meaningfully improve the core gameplay experience. The USD 60/GBP 50 price point becomes difficult to justify for existing players, particularly those who purchased F1 24, as the improvements don't constitute a substantial enough upgrade to warrant a full-price purchase.
Final Verdict: Quality Content Hampered by Diminishing Returns
F1 25 remains a high-quality racing simulation that newcomers to the series will thoroughly enjoy, offering substantial content across its three main pillars: Braking Point campaign, career modes, and F1 World online integration. However, the game represents a concerning trend for the franchise, where annual releases struggle to provide meaningful innovation while introducing new problems that didn't exist in previous entries. The excellent Braking Point campaign and improved My Team mode can't fully compensate for the handling regression and overall sense of series fatigue that permeates the experience.