F1 25: Fixing What F1 24 Got Wrong

We gotta say it every time a new installment drops in these annual series: it’s mad tough to add enough fresh stuff so players feel like it’s worth sticking around season after season. Still, if you’re eager to dive in, there are plenty of places where you can buy games without paying full price. But when a game messes up, it’s obvious what needs fixing—and with F1 25, all the upgrades Codemasters needed to make were right there in front of them the whole time. The biggest thing was the track and driving feel. F1 23 was solid for hardcore fans, but F1 24 was kinda off, with this weird arcade vibe that made playing with a controller or wheel feel totally different. They hyped up Dynamic Handling with Max Verstappen involved, but honestly, that ended up falling flat. Thank god, now the driving’s back to being demanding. No matter the difficulty, you get tons of settings to tweak so it fits your style or skill. Pick the hardest levels, and you better bring your A-game—or at least go for the level just below that and turn off traction control. Mistakes hit hard now, and you can’t just slide your way out of big problems. Tire grip isn’t crazy anymore, and tire wear actually shows up in longer races—tested it on some 30-lap runs. Losing control happens mostly if you don’t straighten the car right coming out of corners, not from hitting grass or curbs. But if you roll over gravel, that’s when you’re in real trouble.

AI: Strong But Inconsistent on Race Day

The AI’s still playing at a high level, but like always, it can be kinda all over the place—whether in qualifying or the race. In qualifying, if you’re starting mid-pack, you can hit times close to the top dogs. But once the race gets long, the gaps show up and the field breaks into smaller groups pretty quick. When you’re on the attack, the AI acts way more real, sticking to legal lines. Same goes when they’re chasing you—they’re aggressive but don’t go full reckless and crash into you. Overall, F1 25 stepped up on the track big time, helped by moving fully to the current-gen consoles and ditching PS4 and Xbox One, which were honestly just weighing it down. It’s not just about looking and sounding better, but the gameplay actually got smoother because they’re not stuck trying to make it work on older gear anymore.

Braking Point 3 Delivers Fresh Drama and New Content

Where F1 really levels up is in the content department. This season drops the third Braking Point, and it’s a solid way for new players to jump in. The vets already know the drill: more Butler family drama, with Callie shining as a star and Casper stepping up as a team boss. Like most sports game story modes, some moments feel extra dramatic and others a bit too sweet, but hey, it’s a PEGI 3 game after all. What really stands out is how it plays, though. It’s kinda like a narrative tutorial that throws all kinds of real situations at you—like dealing with a puncture, sudden weather changes that mean switching tires, or a little crash that messes up your position.

F1 25: Driver Management Adds New Team Drama

So yeah, managing both drivers means deciding who gets the new upgrades—and that’s gonna stir some drama. You gotta keep an eye on the vibes in the paddock, ‘cause if one driver feels left out or too much in the spotlight, they might refuse to stick around... or other teams might start eyeing them. On the management side, it’s surprisingly deep. You’re juggling way more than just parts and race strategies. There’s even an upgrade tree for your team, so as the seasons roll on, you can go toe-to-toe with the big dogs like Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren. It’s not quite F1 Manager level, but it’s close enough—and honestly, it’s a goldmine of hours both on and off the track. After a rough exit with F1 24, Codemasters bounced back with driving that’s fully customizable and feels way more real. New players aren’t left out either—they can still jump in without needing nerves of steel at every corner. But if F1 25 shines anywhere, it’s in the content. Braking Point’s back, bringing the deepest career mode yet, plus solid management that promises loads of gameplay throughout the season.