F1 22 — released July 1 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X — delivers a high-octane simulation racing experience with updated car and track physics. Codemasters — which has been at the helm of the F1 franchise for over a decade — does not drop the ball when it comes to the core of F1 22. The new car models feel more responsive than last year, the tracks have been adapted faithfully, and the cars sound riveting zooming around the tracks. Minor tweaks have also been made to the My Team mode to make it more attractive for returning players.

F1 22 is the best F1 game in many years. It’s a great entry point for newcomers who want to get into the series and have a blast. The new cars are better than before, and Codemasters has done a great job of capturing the spirit of modern F1.

F1 2016 — released November 4, 2015 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One — is a solid game that doesn’t necessarily break any new ground but gets the job done. The cars feel more responsive than last year’s offering, the tracks have been adapted faithfully, and the cars sound riveting zooming around the tracks. The game also features a decent single-player mode with its own campaign.

F1 2016 is not a bad game by any means. It’s still an F1 game, and it does what it needs to do very well. However, I think Codemasters has missed out on an opportunity to make this one of the best F1 games in years if not decades.

The F2P model is still full of issues that limit player choice and enjoyment. The new career mode has little to no progression system beyond earning money through events; there are no real objectives like in previous years; and there are too many events that are not even available at all — such as testing sessions or filming days — without paying real money for them (which can be done through microtransactions). There is also no way to earn credits in-game anymore (GBWhatsApp from being a subscriber or buying premium currency); those who don’t have enough money will have a hard time progressing in career mode; and those who do can easily get ahead of others by spending premium currency through microtransactions (such as to unlock more of the game’s content).

There are also issues with the game itself. The graphics are still not up to par with modern games (especially when compared to Codemasters’ previous F1 games), and there is still no in-game damage model, leaving cars vulnerable to damage after a crash. The AI is still not as good as it should be for a game this old, and the online multiplayer is still plagued by lag, bugs, and other problems.

F1 22 review: gameplay and graphics

That said, things on track are crisper than ever. The new Formula One 2022 season cars are seemingly more responsive than last year, offering a fresh challenge to veteran players without being extremely difficult to master. Still, the learning curve is significant — newcomers will have to sink in several hours to get to grips with the basics of F1 22's driving mechanics. The AI does not make things easier either. I found the AI to be extremely unforgiving at tight corners; recklessly colliding into my car if I pinch the space.

Fret not! The F1 22 developer has included a plethora of driving assists and customisation settings giving players the option to personalise their racing experience. If you are new to the game, you can bump up the driving assists without reducing the AI difficulty to still make it challenging. The trusty Flashback feature is also here that allows you to go back and pick up from an earlier point in the race, in case you manage to crash or lose position.

F1 22 review: Graphics and sound

The game's graphics are in line with the series' standards. The car models look very lifelike, especially the F1 cars which have been redesigned to add a more aggressive edge. The tracks have been built with an emphasis on authenticity, featuring real world landmarks and iconic buildings. The weather effects are also impressive. Raindrops splatter onto windows, while the sky is filled with clouds and lightning during thunderstorms.

The soundtrack is also worth mentioning, as it is just as exhilarating as it had always been in previous F1 games — if not more so due to the new engine sounds that make each car roar to life during intense battles on the track. But you will get sick of hearing 'Chase Theme'.

F1 22 review: Multiplayer modes and online play

The old favourite multiplayer modes remain intact for F1 fans — Pitstop Challenge, Practice Session and Quick Race — but there's a new addition called Grand Prix Challenge which challenges you to complete a series of laps against AI opponents in either quick or classic race formats. You can also pit your team against another team in an online race or take part in a hot lap challenge against fellow players. There's also time attack mode where you can race through various tracks in short bursts of time within a set time limit; this mode also features leaderboards for you to keep track of your progress against other players around the world. Lastly, there's Championship Mode which is essentially the same as previous games, although it's now split into four different tiers to keep things fresh.

F1 22 review: Graphics and audio

On the visual side of things, F1 2015 is still a beautiful game to look at on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The cars are more detailed than ever and you can even see wheels turning in the rear-view mirrors when you're driving. The lighting effects are also much more pronounced and dynamic than in previous games — especially when there's fog or rain involved. Elsewhere, the trackside environment looks great as well, with a variety of weather effects such as rain, snow or fog on offer depending on what you're doing at any given time. Audio-wise, F1 2015 delivers some fantastic sound effects that really bring each race to life; whether it’s your car approaching a bend or your engine roaring as you speed towards a hairpin corner.

Conclusion

F1 2016 is a good racing game with some issues, but it could have been so much better if Codemasters had taken some of the things that made its last two F1 games great and implemented them here. F2P has limited player choice; there are too many events that are only available through paying; there isn’t enough progression in career mode; online multiplayer has issues; and both graphics and gameplay aren’t up to par with modern racing games. Hopefully Codemasters will improve on these things in future upgrades or DLCs for F1 2016 so that this will become one of the best F1 games in years (at least).