F1 25: 2026 Season Pack – Every Update Explained

by

Okay, so F1 2026 is going to be wild. They’re completely changing the engine rules – we’re talking almost a 50/50 split between the traditional engine and electric power. That means managing energy throughout the whole race is going to be way more important than ever. Honestly, it’s a huge shake-up, and even the teams are still trying to figure out how to get the most out of these new rules. It’s going to be interesting to see who nails it!

Codemasters faced a huge task with all the changes coming to Formula 1 – new car designs, teams, and drivers. It was likely too much to include in a completely new game in time, so they’re releasing the 2026 Season Pack as a downloadable addition. This pack will bring in most of the rule changes planned for F1 2026, before a bigger overhaul of the series with F1 27.

While it might seem like a simple update, F1 25: 2026 Season Pack brings significant changes to the game. Here are fifteen of the biggest improvements and new features you can expect.

Regulation Overhaul Changes How You Drive

These new regulations will noticeably change how the cars handle. They’re lighter and more responsive, and adjustable wings give you more control when turning and accelerating. You’ll also be more involved in managing the car’s battery charge, which we’ll explain later, along with how aerodynamics work. During races, you’ll have more options to overtake and defend, but if the game accurately reflects real Formula 1 racing, you’ll need to use these tools carefully to successfully pass another driver.

New Regs Mean Strategy Shifts Between Circuits

Looking closely at the planned aerodynamic changes for 2026, the new, smaller front and rear wings will reduce downforce, which means less grip and, consequently, reduced cornering ability. This also makes it easier to lose control and spin, especially if driver assistance systems aren’t fully utilized. However, the biggest change remains energy management, and how drivers recharge their batteries will vary from track to track. For example, fast circuits like Monza will require very careful energy conservation, while the tight streets of Monaco will place less focus on battery recovery.

Active Aero Isn’t Necessarily an Overtaking Aid

Okay, so the 2026 cars are going to be way less reliant on that old DRS system for passing. It’s cool because we’ll be able to adjust the aero on the front and rear wings throughout every single lap, not just when we’re close behind another car. That basically cancels out any benefit someone used to get from opening the rear wing to reduce drag. Instead, the new system lets us run higher speeds on the straights while still having enough downforce to stick the corners – though it won’t be quite as much grip as we had with the 2025 cars. It’s all about finding that balance!

Overtake Mode is the True DRS Replacement

When making small adjustments to the car’s aerodynamics no longer helps you get past another racer, the new Overtake Mode – powered by the battery – is now your best way to gain a speed boost. Similar to the previous DRS system, if you’re within one second of the car ahead at a specific point on the track, you can activate Overtake Mode. This releases a surge of electrical power that lasts for the entire next lap. You decide when to use it, and as you’ve likely seen in recent races, drivers are now using it to overtake in unexpected places on the track.

Boost Mode Gives an Additional Power Surge

Similar to Active Aero, Boost Mode can be used at any time during a race and gives your car a quick burst of speed by using stored electrical energy. This year’s Boost Mode is more powerful than in F1 25, but it drains the battery faster. This means you’ll need to be more strategic about when to use it – deciding whether to save it for attacking or defending, rather than using it constantly throughout each lap.

More Active Role in Recharging Battery

In previous F1 25 games, energy would recharge automatically. However, the 2026 Season Pack requires you to change how you drive to get the most battery charge. While braking still helps restore energy, it’s now just as important to ease off the throttle slightly before turns. Many F1 drivers, including four-time champion Max Verstappen, aren’t fans of this new requirement – some believe cars should always be driven at full speed. Another debated feature is ‘superclipping,’ where cars automatically start harvesting energy at high revs, causing a noticeable drop in engine power on long straights. EA hasn’t said much about clipping in F1 25: 2026 Season Pack, but early players have reported it happening, such as on the fast approach to the 130R corner at Suzuka.

New Assists Can Manage Active Aero and Overtake Mode

If you prefer to concentrate on driving, the F1 25: 2026 Season Pack includes two new assists that can automatically handle things like aerodynamic adjustments, energy recovery, and Overtake Mode. However, using these tools at the right time gives you a significant strategic edge, so it’s more helpful to learn how they work yourself than to rely on the game to manage them for you.

New Driver Lineup

Okay, so the driver lineup for the 2026 F1 season isn’t totally different from last year, but there’s been some shuffling around! The big news for me is Isaak Hadjar finally getting the call-up to Red Bull – he’s moving over from Racing Bulls to replace Yuki Tsunoda. And it’s cool to see rookie Arvid Lindblad stepping in to take Hadjar’s old spot. Plus, I’m really excited about Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez both coming back – they’re joining forces on a brand new team, which should be interesting to watch!

Two New Teams

Cadillac is one of the new teams on the racing circuit, and they’ve chosen experienced drivers like Bottas and Perez for their first season. Although currently near the bottom of the rankings alongside Aston Martin, recent improvements to their cars show they could become competitive in the middle of the pack. The other new team is Audi, who took over the Sauber team last year and are using their own engine. They’ve had a difficult start, but Audi has a strong history in racing that shouldn’t be overlooked.

New Circuit: MADRING

As a racing game fan, I’m really excited about the new MADRING circuit! It’s being built right in Madrid, and it’s designed for the 2026 F1 cars – so expect some seriously fast racing. They’ve mixed real city streets with a custom-built track, and it’s got a bit of everything: flowing curves, tricky technical bits, and this massive banked turn that’s going to be awesome to take at speed. Even though it’s still being built, the team at Codemasters managed to get their hands on early designs and recreate it in the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if they make a few adjustments to the track in F1 27 once the real drivers have actually raced on the finished version, though – that’s usually how it goes!

You’ll Need to Start a New Save

Just to clarify, updates for Driver Career and My Team in F1 25 – like the new cars, rules, and race schedule – won’t apply to your existing saved games. You’ll only be able to experience the new MADRING circuit with the 2026 cars. If you start a new season with a custom team, you’ll begin as the twelfth team on the grid.

Custom Teams Won’t Transfer

Also, custom teams you’ve already created won’t work when you switch between F1 25 and the 2026 Season Pack. This means the two seasons will be treated as completely separate game modes, and that’s why teams like Konnersport or APXGP can’t be used in the 2026 season.

Practice Programs and Race Objectives are Adjusted

During practice sessions at each race, we’ll make sure your program aligns with the latest rules for this season. You can expect to spend time fine-tuning how you save and use energy before qualifying. And during the race, your engineer will give you goals that reflect the new changes in F1 2026.

Ranked Multiplayer is Not Supported

The 2026 regulations are available in time trial, custom grand prix, and regular multiplayer modes, but you won’t be able to use them in ranked multiplayer. This is understandable, as not all F1 25 players will purchase the 2026 Season Pack. However, it might have been better if EA had created separate ranked multiplayer systems for each set of regulations. F1 World, leagues, and challenge careers will continue to use the current game settings.

Track Layouts Receive Visual Update

The F1 25: 2026 Season Pack won’t include any new or redesigned tracks – more detailed tracks might come with F1 27 instead. However, the new DLC will update the visual aspects of existing tracks, including things like trackside signs, sponsors, and pit lane length, which is being adjusted to accommodate the new Cadillac team.

Read More

2026-06-04 20:43