F1 23 review – a return to racing form

PlayStation 4/5, Xbox, PC; Codemasters/Electronic Arts
One of the finest and longest-running racing sims has had a significant upgrade – and gives you the chance to try the new Las Vegas track before it opens

Formula One may be the pinnacle of motorsport, but it’s also a soap opera, and with F1 23’s single-player story mode Braking Point, developer Codemasters has run wild with that idea. It follows the ups and downs of the fictional rookie team Konnersport in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, a rollicking rollercoaster of bitchiness and tense relationships, and cleverly casts you as several characters, behind the wheel and in the paddock. It blends nostalgia with some great what-ifs and, running to 17 chapters, is pleasingly substantial.

It also offers a great introduction to F1 23’s main Career mode, since it takes in a representative selection of tracks. This year, Career mode and My Team (which casts you as owner of the team as well as a driver) are largely unchanged. Both already did a fine job of replicating the real experience of pursuing a Formula One career, and Codemasters has left well alone.

If you’re looking for more arcade-style racing, rather than simulation, look to F1 World – the replacement for last year’s F1 Life, which was essentially an egregious excuse to shoehorn loot boxes into the game. F1 World puts you in a generic car, which can be upgraded as you level up, and its set of mini-races and custom race designer offer a gentler way of ease into competitive online racing – and makes a lot more sense than F1 Life did..

F1 23 is out 16 June; £59.99. The platform tested was Xbox Series X

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