F1 2021 The Game review

Formula One’s official game is now in full release for the 2021 season. Codemasters has brought a full story mode and another annual round of improvements. But is it enough to justify the upgrade from 2020?

F1 2021 is the latest installment of the F1 series from developer Codemasters, and the first under their new Electronic Arts parent company. This year’s edition is hardly an overhaul, but it does build on the strengths of previous titles in the series and delivers a solid gaming experience. Below is our review of F1 2021 for PC.

Intro to 2021​

Codemasters has some highlighted some of the new or improved features for 2021:

• Braking Point – A new story mode focused on rivalries and relationships both on and off the track
• Two-Player Career – You and an IRL friend can compete as a team or against each other in Career mode
• Real-Season Start – Jump into a season based on current standings in Formula One and drive the remainder of the season
• Updated Driver Stats – Drivers’ statistics have been updated based on recent real-world performance
• Casual, Standard and Expert Modes – Get as in-depth as you’d like with various modes that determine the amount of input required from the player

Graphics​

Graphically, the F1 series has essentially stagnated, albeit at a very visually appealing level. F1 2021 can be stunning to look at, just don’t expect to experience those looks in VR or triple screens natively. The game carries heavy console influence in its presentation, so playing on a single screen is how it was meant to be enjoyed.

Various graphics level presets and customization options are present, and the visual presentation can range from good to near lifelike. F1 2021 is not unusually strenuous on graphics cards either, so sustaining good frame rates across various tiers of video cards should be possible.

Sounds​

Codemasters has been tasked with recreating arguably the worst sounding F1 cars in history, so don’t expect the core gameplay to wow you with engine notes. Classic F1 cars like the F2004 and its screaming V10 like we’ve seen in previous years aren’t present here, so the F1 and F2 sounds are all users can expect to hear.

Credit should be given though to the secondary sounds. Added touches like the DRS beep, radio calls, broadcast music, and commentary are all essential to creating the ambiance and immersion we’ve come to expect from the series, and once again it’s delivered well.

Content​

The F1 games’ annual release format has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 schedule adjustments in the real-world race series. Codemasters has been unable to keep up with the comparatively short notice changes to the F1 calendar, and in some cases tracks that will be raced on this season are missing altogether in F1 2021.

Also on the content front, the classic F1 cars are conspicuously absent this time around. Drivers like Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher can be acquired in-game, but not their cars. Granted, the classic F1 cars from previous years have been viewed by some as a sales gimmick, but more content variety in a racing title that features only two series should always be welcomed. The game does include the full 2020 F2 series cars in addition to all of the 2021 F1 cars, however.

All of the scheduled tracks for the 2021 Formula One calendar are present here. As we’ve seen, that calendar is undergoing significant changes. Some of the tracks are starting to show their age as well, and new laser scans would be a welcome update for future titles in the series.

Multiplayer​

It took only a few hours after the game was released before aliens starting flexing on social media with impressive hotlaps in F1 2021. This continues to be a key part of the online experience in F1 games. Only a few days removed from official release, a 1:30.000 lap at Silverstone won’t even land you in the top 10,000 in the world. This speaks both to the popularity and the talent level of the player base.

Of course, online racing is a big part of the series as well. F1 2021 offers gamers plenty of opportunity to jump into an online race thanks to solid player counts. Those online races are subject to rammers like previous titles, and expect to find the most well-populated races to be held at Monza, Spa and Silverstone.

Single Player​

F1 2021’s most highly touted addition this year is Braking Point. Braking Point is a full story mode, putting players in control of a character that progresses from Formula 2 into a career in Formula 1. Players will be responsible not only for winning races, but also controlling relationships off the track. This mode is well done and should serve as an intriguing entry point for those who have been pulled into the sport by Netflix’s popular and drama-rich Drive to Survive series.

The Braking Point story is obviously geared toward those looking to commit to this title over a longer period, but for those looking to use F1 2021 for casual offline races, Codemasters hasn’t left you hanging. The AI you race against shows excellent awareness, and computer-controlled cars will fight you hard to hold their current positions.

The Real-Start feature is impressive too, allowing players to jump in to the current F1 season as it stands and finish out the calendar. It’s another nicely done level of immersion in the title, but of course it won’t matter after the season finishes.

User Interface​

Again this year, Codemasters doesn’t allow PC users to navigate menus with a mouse. Most of the menus are reasonably well laid out, but recurring issues such as the escape key not exiting you from menu screens are still present. The interface appears to be unchanged beyond cosmetic details in this edition.

Driving Physics and Force Feedback​

This year’s F1 title likely won’t change the minds of fans or critics of the series concerning the driving experience. The cars behave nicely overall, though low speed corners tend to produce a crunchy understeer effect that feels unnatural given the capabilities of the car. It does feel nicely hooked up around fast sections like the Maggotts, Becketts and Chapel complex or through Eau Rouge and feels reasonably nimble around medium speed corners.

The force feedback feels about the same as previous years. It’s sufficient to give you some idea of when the car is beyond its traction limits, though it doesn’t have the detailed road bumps and tire scrub that we find in higher end racing simulations. It often feels like your car is floating rather than connected to the road by soft rubber. It’s not any worse than what we’ve come to expect based on previous years, but unfortunately not any better either.

One final note on the handling is that the rain driving feels great. It gives a good sense of reduced traction without feeling overdone, and the curbs can be either benign or problematic depending on the angle and speed you attack them with.

Overall​

Codemasters has done enough this year to pique the interest of returning fans of the series, but nothing in this title is particularly groundbreaking for owners of recent editions. The Braking Point story mode is an interesting and well-done feature, likely most suited to new fans of the F1 game series or those who are new to the sport in general.

F1 2021 carries on a tried-and-true formula Codies has utilized for this series and haven’t pushed themselves past their comfort zone. The fun we’ve come to expect from the series is present once again. Hardcore sim racers should temper their expectations before diving in to F1 2021, but for as amusing romp racing alongside some of the most famous race drivers in the world, this title has a lot to offer. If you weren’t a fan of F1 2019 or 2020, the returning features and characteristics will likely have you feeling the same about 2021.

Next year should prove interesting in this series given the new car regulations. Between having a new parent company and Formula One undergoing significant changes, that comfort zone is soon to be broken. For now, Codemasters has played within their abilities and delivered another fun and competent title. It does enough to justify the upgrade for most fans of the series, and the new story mode makes this a great time for those new to the series to jump in.

Did you buy F1 2021? Let us know in the comments below what your impressions are so far and make sure to submit your own rating and be sure to check out our rapidly growing F1 2021 modding section and vibrant community forum.

Note: Reviewed on PC with a wheel and pedals.