Let’s be honest: after the trainwreck that was F1 24, anything remotely functional already feels like an upgrade. And that’s where F1 25 comes in. Just the fact that it doesn’t make you want to gouge your eyes out and cut your arms off is a win. But is that enough? Well… it depends how low your bar is set.
Not a Game Changer
Let’s start with what’s most noticeable — the handling. F1 25 is probably the most accessible game in the series in recent years when using a wheel. The cars behave more predictably, mistakes are easier to understand, and you no longer feel like you’re wrestling an inflatable raft in a storm. Is it a miracle? No. Is it a relief? Absolutely.
However, the illusion fades fast the moment you fire up F1 23.
F1 23’s handling still wipes the floor with F1 25
Lights, Shadows, and Performance Trade-Offs
One real improvement in F1 25 is the lighting system. Even on tracks that are virtually the same as last year, the visuals feel more natural. I personally miss a bit more color saturation, but within the limits of this ancient graphics engine, they’ve done what they could.
The downside? Performance takes a hit. Playing at 3440×1440 with path tracing on is simply not viable. I went from 90 FPS to under 35. Oddly enough, the drop from running solo to full grid is minimal. Is that good or bad? I don’t even know anymore.
Gameplay is fine, but menus and replays come with black bars, misaligned HUDs, and a clear lack of polish. And no, you still can’t use a mouse in menus. In 2025. In a PC game. Brilliant.
Old Bugs, New Season
Some bugs have become traditions. Engineer audio lines overlapping. Wheel feedback dying after connecting a controller. Configuration errors popping up despite everything being correctly set. Oh, and the driver lineup? Still not up to date. Franco Colapinto replacing Jack Doohan at Alpine? Not in the game. Or rather, he is… in the F2 2023 roster. Classic.
And the driver models? Codemasters just copy-pasted one body shape for everyone. So yes, Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon now look like identical twins. It’s not like we’re asking for 800 unique players like in NBA 2K. Just 20.
Track Updates… Kind Of
Yes, some tracks have been rescanned with LIDAR and they look fantastic (Imola, Albert Park, Suzuka, Miami, Bahrain). And yes, three tracks have reverse layouts (Silverstone, Red Bull Ring, Zandvoort), complete with DRS zones, signage, and adjusted AI behavior.
Only three out of 24 tracks, though. It’s a shame, because the reverse layouts are actually fun and feel fresh. More would’ve been very welcome.
The Online Mode
Online play is exactly the same as last year. Same menus, same ranked mode where you’re lucky to find more than three players. Same everything. If you were hoping for a structured competitive mode with scheduled races — keep dreaming.
Story Mode & The Movie Tie-In
Breaking Point is back. I haven’t tested it fully yet, but I hope this time we’ll actually get to drive the dramatic parts instead of watching them in cutscenes. Also, they’ve added a mode based on the upcoming F1 movie, complete with a special cinematic filter. It looks great — almost too great, considering the rest of the game isn’t treated with that same care.
Is It Worth It?
Short answer: No, not if you already own F1 23. Unless you’re obsessed with up-to-date rosters (and again, they’re not fully updated), there’s nothing here that justifies the price tag. In fact, there’s less content now, with some tracks removed from previous editions.
Is it fun? Yes. I enjoyed racing against the AI. I even completed full races I didn’t need to, just because I was having a good time. The handling is improved from F1 24, and it makes for some entertaining offline play.
F1 25 is a small step forward from a very low point, but not a leap ahead. It’s the same formula, the same menus, the same bugs — with minor tweaks. It’s not a terrible game. It’s just not worth what they’re asking for.
If you’re new to the series, go buy F1 23 second-hand. You’ll spend a quarter of the price, get better handling, more content, and still enjoy the same official F1 experience (or more, really). Codemasters used to deliver passion projects. Now they just seem to tick boxes. And the box for “justify a full-price game”? Still left unchecked.
Enjoy the game if you have it. But if you don’t, spend your money wisely. There are better laps to take elsewhere.
BUY IT HERE!
Happy Racing!
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