As in every year racing fans can rely on a new Codemasters F1 game being released. With the return of the story mode Braking point and new feature implemented inside the new F1-World mode this year’s installment is for sure the most extensive game in Codemasters F1 history.

The story of Braking points builds upon the events of the story of the 2021 game around the competition and tension between the fictive F1 youngsters Aiden Jackson and Dave Butler. Deciding to also introduce a fictional team (Konner Sport) this year brings the advantage of more freedom in the narrative and avoids known F1 drivers missing from the grid. Compared to F1 2021 the story made a step forward. The narrative is more interesting, characters have at least a bit more of background and the intensions and their motivations aren’t always as black and white as in F1 2021. The presentation largely follows the same mix of cut scenes in the style of Netflix’s “Drive to Survive” series and race action with defined goals to be accomplished allowing to proceed to the next chapter. In addition, you have to manage the Konner Sports team by making decision with consequences along the story. Those decisions, as well as the performance during the race influence the publicity and performance score of your team. Phone calls and scrolling through team E-mail and social media add further to the storytelling. Throughout the campaign you will play in the role of multiple drivers and team managers giving enough variety and more insights on different characters whereas F1 2021 focused mainly on Aiden Jackson. Overall Braking point is a remarkable step forward in terms of storytelling, characters, and presentation.

The career-mode returns as in previous years allowing you to join an existing team as a driver or create a fully new team in My Team mode. In the latter you will be the number one driver of the team and principal of the team as well. The management is complex including management of team activities, sponsors, second driver contracts and upgrade of the team facilities. The research and development of new car part is also a crucial part in order bring your team to the top of F1. You invest resource points gained in practice sessions to develop new parts and upgrades for the aerodynamics, reliability, chassis, and engine of the car. Both driver and My Team career can be played in coop mode by two players. The career mode remained mostly unchanged compared to F1 2022 but is still a cornerstone for single players, focused to make their driver and team driver and constructors champion in Formula 1.

F1 World is the central hub for casual race series, individual grand prix events in both single and multiplayer, ranked multiplayer and time-trial. Whereas for time-trial and multiplayer sessions most things remained the same a new series of events was added allowing the player to collect various items which can be invested in cars and team upgrades. Every race in F1 World will score you various points and items. Those upgrades increase the performance level of your car and team and will unlock further race series events. The events range from quick races over small themed series (like a series of races in Europe) and scenario races in which you must fulfill a certain goal, like a minimal final position reached in the race. Supplementary goals can be selected from a virtual sales team giving you further bonuses. The loop of small gaming sessions, car and team upgrade and unlocking of further content is motivating, especially as also casual small play sessions are rewarded. It makes F1 2023 a game also motivating for single players who completed the career mode already or search a less complex racing experience. Moreover, the F1 World mode has a compendium, s virtual sticker album with real photos from the previous F1 season. Progress in F1 World will give you stickers which you can glue in here learning more about the tracks, teams, and drivers of F1.