F1 25 – Everything You Need to Know

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As the 2025 Formula One driver’s championship gains momentum, Codemasters and EA Sports have unveiled their latest offering in the world of F1 racing – F1 25. The updates incorporated in this new version are extensive, and we’ve made every effort to provide a detailed overview across the fifteen articles in this feature. However, it is important to note that EA has decided to discontinue support for older-generation consoles with F1 25. This decision has allowed the development team to focus all their resources on the innovative features of F1 25, which abound. With EA’s recently released driver ratings (including McLaren’s rising star Oscar Piastri ranked eighth), there is growing excitement; this could be one of the best F1 games in years.

LIDAR-scanned tracks

In the game F1 25, an exceptional level of visual accuracy and precise circuit replication has been introduced. Using LIDAR scanning technology, the appearance and ambiance of five tracks – Bahrain, Imola, Miami, Suzuka, and Melbourne – have been enhanced. During a Formula 1 race weekend, these tracks were scanned to capture every detail such as barriers, advertisements, lighting, foliage, and track surfaces, making them indistinguishable from their real-life counterparts during a Formula 1 event. Furthermore, the LIDAR data points provide an astonishing level of track realism, with features like bumps, elevation changes, off-camber corners, and varying curb heights, all requiring increased skill to navigate effectively. Lastly, this game offers players a sensation of speed that closely mimics the experience of actual Formula 1 drivers.

Reverse circuits

In F1 25, EA is experimenting with reversed racetracks for the first time. These aren’t just ordinary reversals; they’ve gone all out to ensure everything works authentically in reverse, from floor decals to pit crew formation. Three tracks will be available to race backwards: Silverstone, Austria’s Red Bull Ring, and Zandvoort. The final curve at Zandvoort, reminiscent of NASCAR’s banked turns, becomes a thrilling first corner flip in reverse. And no, they haven’t just flipped the cars; they’ve meticulously adjusted racing lines, tyre wear, and drying lines that appear after rain to make the experience as realistic as possible.

My Team 2.0

The modifications coming to F1 25’s My Team and Driver Career modes are numerous and mind-boggling. The primary transformation in My Team shifts players from being managerial racers to dedicated team owners, with a focus on management, yet still allowing them the opportunity to drive. This revised version involves closer financial analysis, an initial division of research and development, and complex personnel management. You’ll need to consider the conflicting interests within your driver line-up, as well as boosting overall company morale. In My Team 2.0, team owners can now negotiate contracts with drivers they believe are deserving of racing under their banner, and have the option to control either driver from the cockpit during race weekends.

My Team 2.0’s more meaningful strategy calls

In terms of car upgrades, you have two options: you can allocate funds for new parts in both vehicles, ensuring equal benefits for both drivers. Another approach is to focus your research and development budget on the lead driver’s vehicle, which may result in quicker development but could potentially create dissatisfaction among the second driver. This might complicate contract negotiations later on.

In Formula 1 25, you might choose to drive your top performer’s car to help him secure the world championship title, or maybe you’ll opt to race in the less effective driver’s vehicle to preserve a strong standing in the constructor’s championship. These decisions reflect the strategic aspects of F1 25.

Braking Point 3

The thrilling storyline of F1’s blockbuster mode makes its comeback in F1 25, starting with the journey of Aiden Jackson in F1 2021, followed by the emergence of the fictional team Konnersport in F1 23. Now, Konnersport is no longer a small fish; they’re competing for championships in the Braking Point 3 campaign of F1 25, and it’s your job to guide them towards victory. In F1 25, the cutscenes have been upgraded, thanks to EA’s ‘state-of-the-art’ motion capture technology, and the difficulty settings have been adjusted to cater to both newcomers and experienced racing enthusiasts alike.

Revisions to car handling

As a devoted fan, I’ve got to say that while the visual spectacle in F1 25 is undeniably impressive, it’s the driving experience or “car feel” that truly excites me. This has been a topic of debate among racing enthusiasts regarding recent F1 releases. However, it seems that EA is making an effort to address these concerns with F1 25 by enhancing control, tire and aerodynamic performance, as well as power unit behavior. The end goal? A completely overhauled driving experience. Through rigorous testing and gathering feedback, they aim to deliver a revised car handling that I can’t wait to get my hands on!

Car handling revisions in detail

When using either a controller or steering wheel, the driving experience is intended to feel more instinctive due to the road physics adapting closely to changing track conditions, providing a seamless blend with precisely adjusted steering speeds. This should lead to a better grasp of where the car’s grip lies, allowing for pushing vehicles to their maximum potential. The tires have been recalibrated, so they overheat more realistically under aggressive driving styles. A refined slipstream model enhances aerodynamic performance, particularly noticeable when drafting behind another car in its turbulent air. With F1 25’s updated power unit performance, clutch shifting feels smoother, throttles are remapped, and energy recovery systems are recalibrated, leading to more intricate racing strategies due to the need to manage speed effectively.

AI enhancements

Players of previous F1 games have expressed disappointment in how the AI-controlled racers behave, finding it less exciting than watching real-life races. To enhance the experience in F1 25, EA conducted extensive playtesting with professional F1 players, using their skills in overtaking, defensive maneuvers, and overall race strategy to improve their AI models. This should result in more realistic on-track behavior and strategic decision making.

New Decal Editor

The F1 25 update offers an all-new Decal Editor, allowing for extensive customization of racing car designs. Instead of predetermined positions for sponsor decals, you can now move, rotate, and resize them. Additionally, new fonts and color options have been added for driver numbers. Most notably, the update includes intricate patterns for sponsor liveries that align with your team’s primary sponsor, making it simpler to maintain a unified look for your vehicle.

Path tracing introduced

In the latest ‘ultra max’ graphics setting, the visual realism in F1 25 has been significantly enhanced to mimic the effects of path tracing. This means that shadows, light, and color gradients will appear incredibly detailed across every inch of the race track. The game now accurately simulates how light behaves, bouncing off various surfaces and textures both directly and indirectly. Whether you’re racing under the dazzling city lights of Singapore or hurtling towards the stunning sunset in Abu Dhabi, the lighting effects will be incredibly lifelike. However, keep in mind that these advanced graphics are exclusive to PC and require a powerful hardware setup to run smoothly.

Invitationals – a brand-new collaborative mode

Introducing multiplayer events called Invitationals, now accessible through F1 World! Once received, an invitation can be extended to your friends, allowing you all to compete towards a common goal with in-game prizes for winners. Keep in mind that some invitational events may be more difficult than others, but the greater the challenge, the higher the potential rewards.

Newfound emphasis on respectful racing

As a passionate racer, I can’t help but feel exasperated when online competitors intentionally undermine my racing experience. To foster a more respectful and enjoyable multiplayer environment, Electronic Arts (EA) are revamping their Driver of the Day system. The goal is to inspire players to maintain their reputations in a positive light. Moreover, EA is emphasizing the importance of clean racing and fair overtakes in F1 25, highlighting these as key aspects that players should strive for.

Release date, platforms, price

On May 30th, 2025, the global release of F1 25 will take place, available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The Standard Edition is set at £69.99 / $69.99 for consoles or £49.99 / $59.99 on Steam. The game’s cover features Oliver Bearman, Carlos Sainz, and championship leader Oscar Piastri. Pre-ordering F1 25 Standard Edition grants you the F1 75 Celebration Pack, F1 World Starter Pack, and 5,000 PitCoins.

Iconic Edition

The upcoming F1 25’s Iconic Edition, boasting Lewis Hamilton as its cover star in Ferrari red, retails for £89.99 / $89.99 on consoles and £69.99 / $79.99 on Steam. Pre-ordering offers a three-day early access plus various other benefits including an F1 World Bumper Pack, F1 The Movie chapter scenarios, APXGP Team Pack, a selection of 2025 liveries, 18,000 PitCoins, and a one-month subscription to F1 TV Pro for US residents. To celebrate Lewis Hamilton’s prominence, the game comes with additional Lewis Hamilton-themed goodies such as a Lewis Hamilton Iconic Pack containing unique in-game customizations, and a Lewis Hamilton F1 World Event. Just like previous F1 games, EA is offering a 15% loyalty discount on the upper-tier edition of this game to owners of F1 23 and F1 24.

According to the Steam listing for F1 25, the minimum PC specifications include an Intel Core i5-6400 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 processor, 8GB of RAM, a GPU such as NVIDIA GTX 1060, RTX 2060, AMD RX 570 or 6700XT, and a 4-core CPU operating at 2.2Ghz or faster. The network should have a minimum speed of 1Mbps upload with a ping of less than 60ms for the basic experience. For an optimal gaming experience, it is recommended to use an Intel Core i5-9600k or AMD Ryzen 5 2600X processor, 16GB of RAM, and a high-end GPU like NVIDIA RTX 2070 or RTX 3070, AMD RX 6600XT or RX 6800, or Intel Arc A580. A network with a 3Mbps upload speed and a ping of less than 30ms is ideal for the best performance. VR support for various headsets is available if you have an Nvidia RX 6700XT GPU. Regardless, you’ll need at least 100GB of storage space on your system. Additionally, if you plan to play using Meta Quest, Nvidia RX 6700XT is recommended among the GPUs.

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2025-05-19 12:12