Codemasters adds Imola Circuit to F1 2021

Imola in F1 2021 01.jpg
Codemasters has added a new circuit to F1 2021 with the release of Imola, plus given players the new white Red Bull livery.

Last month F1 2021 players were excited to see the Portimao circuit added, and now Codemasters has added another circuit by releasing Imola.

The F1 series is slower than many fans would like in releasing new content to keep up with the current real-world Formula One calendar, but true to their word leading up to the release of the most recent edition of the official F1 game, Codemasters has delivered two additional tracks post-release.

The 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix F1 race has already come and gone this year, with Max Verstappen earning a victory, and Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris securing the other two podium positions. An altered 2020 calendar due to a certain worldwide event that resulted in widespread venue closures and travel restrictions was responsible for the return of Imola to the F1 calendar for the first time since 2006. This decision was largely popular amongst motorsports fans, and its return this year was met with equal enthusiasm.

Imola in F1 2021 02.jpg


The circuit itself is among the most popular in sim racing. Assetto Corsa, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Automobilista 1 and 2, RaceRoom Racing Experience and rFactor 2 all have their own official versions of the Italian circuit. The track is well suited for both sprint racing and endurance racing, and makes a great testing ground for cars in practice and hotlapping sessions due to its mix of high and low speed corners and a long, flat-out start/finish straight.

Another bonus players can look forward to in this update is the white Red Bull livery. This was the livery used last weekend in Turkey for the double podium finish from Verstappen and Sergio Perez.

Imola for F1 2021 is now available across all platforms, along with the latest Red Bull livery. If you’ve tried the newest addition to the game be sure to share your thoughts on it below in the comments.
About author
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

Comments

Good to hear. I might even be tempted to purchase F1 2021!!!
It's an alright edition, 2020 version was much better in terms of content (altough missing tracks from the calender...). In 2021 they removed the classic cars wich is a real bummer, there are many graphical issues, specialy in lods and shadows and when it comes to aliasing, you got good AA solutions but at the cost of giving you major ghosting. Just an fyi, I play this game in the maximum setting and in 4k, so the visuals stuff I talk about can't be fixed with higher settings.
 
It's an alright edition, 2020 version was much better in terms of content (altough missing tracks from the calender...). In 2021 they removed the classic cars wich is a real bummer, there are many graphical issues, specialy in lods and shadows and when it comes to aliasing, you got good AA solutions but at the cost of giving you major ghosting. Just an fyi, I play this game in the maximum setting and in 4k, so the visuals stuff I talk about can't be fixed with higher settings.
Their AA always been the worst of any racingtitle. Only looks good on still images.
As soon as anything moves it's a blur fest.
 
Premium
I don't particularly follow F1 and haven't owned an F1 game since F1 2002, so I may not be up to date with how things work. But have I got this right, that the official F1 licensed game didn't have the complete set of tracks when it was released? So technically you couldn't replicate a proper season? Not a dig, I'm just curious why.
 
I don't particularly follow F1 and haven't owned an F1 game since F1 2002, so I may not be up to date with how things work. But have I got this right, that the official F1 licensed game didn't have the complete set of tracks when it was released? So technically you couldn't replicate a proper season? Not a dig, I'm just curious why.
You got it right.

At release it was missing some of the tracks, like Imola & Portimao.

And it will not have Turkey at all (based on current info). And still some of the tracks will not be exactly, like they are or will be in the races this year, like Spain has wrong layout at the on T9, and also Australia's + Abu Dhabi's tracks will not have the correct "new" layout.

Cheers
 
I don't particularly follow F1 and haven't owned an F1 game since F1 2002, so I may not be up to date with how things work. But have I got this right, that the official F1 licensed game didn't have the complete set of tracks when it was released? So technically you couldn't replicate a proper season? Not a dig, I'm just curious why.

I think they had everything planned well ahead and then what went on starting with the 2020 season threw them for a loop. The 2020 game has the Hanoi street circuit, where F1 will probably never drive, and the 2021 game has other tracks that were supposed to be part of the calendar. So the games present some kind of season, the one that was supposed to happen.

It's strange to me that the developers are so slow to react to changes in the calendar. I get that it's a lot of work and other games aren't always up to date either but a) if F1 as a race organization can adjust and find quick solutions, you'd imagine the virtual representation could as well, and b) the tracks in the game aren't exactly the most meticulously recreated in the first place.
 
I think they had everything planned well ahead and then what went on starting with the 2020 season threw them for a loop. The 2020 game has the Hanoi street circuit, where F1 will probably never drive, and the 2021 game has other tracks that were supposed to be part of the calendar. So the games present some kind of season, the one that was supposed to happen.

It's strange to me that the developers are so slow to react to changes in the calendar. I get that it's a lot of work and other games aren't always up to date either but a) if F1 as a race organization can adjust and find quick solutions, you'd imagine the virtual representation could as well, and b) the tracks in the game aren't exactly the most meticulously recreated in the first place.
Don’t know if strange is the right word, speaking with Fat Alfie about the tracks which he creates for AC they take him a year or two. Now admittedly he is a one man band and there are many elements which make a track, then you have bug testing for holes in barriers and track etc.

It is frustrating how long they seem to take, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt due to the curve balls that Covid has thrown at them.
 
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Don’t know if strange is the right word, speaking with Fat Alfie about the tracks which he creates for AC they take him a year or two. Now admittedly he is a one man band and there are many elements which make a track, then you have big testing for holes in barriers and track etc.

It is frustrating how long they seem to take, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt due to the curve balls that Covid has thrown at them.

People like Fat-Alfie are so out of date the tracks look like they're from the 60s or whatever (I love them.) But enthusiasts, him included I think, have also worked with circuit owners to recreate current tracks. And whatever track F1 race on, there are plans, models and other resources already done. I don't know if there are other rights issues, like if F1 decides mid-season to go to Istanbul Park then it might not be covered by all original agreements and Codemasters would have to negotiate things. They are professionals, they have the resources but also responsibilities. Maybe it's not worth it to change plans just because the world changes but it's a bit of a shame. Just the title "F1 2021" etc. comes with a promise and they can't live up to the promise.
 
Right on time RD !! :thumbsup:

Track is amazing and hyper fast !! Too bad the Red Bull livery is not a full-time content, but we will take it :inlove:
 
D
This track joins Suzuka and Monté-Carlo among the most difficult tracks for me with a controller :(

I waste a lot of time in Tamburello and Acque Minerali
 
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I think this will be the last F1 game I buy, I've bought every single Codemasters one, but as I enjoys more and more and strive for a realistic feel, F1 just falls way short for me, it feels like crap to be honest. I understand it's not a sim so I'm glad casual gamers enjoy it.
I'd love if they add a "sim" mode with realistic physics/handling
 
Portimão and Imola did a magnificent job. But they don't correct the kerbs of Monza and Austria, for example, something so simple to do...
 
any real reason for a casual player to upgrade from 20 to 21?
Maybe Portimao and Imola.

If you are not in hurry, I would wait until Jeddah track is released and the game is on sale. Just be prepared, there might be odd bugs on consoles and PC and that there are little annoyances (like mid season career driver changes, which cannot be turned off).

But if you just play for fun driving, it is ok game for that. I have 200+ hours with almost all previous F1 games, 400+ hours on F1 2020, but have now only 70 on F1 2021, and at least half of that was spend on testing my Telemetry Tool with the game, other half was spent to just go quickly through one season in myTeam career. Notably 0 online races/weekly events, as online racing can be pretty bad experience.

Sadly this might be last F1 game I will buy for a while and have also decided to not pre-purchase ever again.

Cheers.
 

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