Codemasters have one goal, "to be the world’s leading racing games developer" according to their mission statement. Their versatile racing library ranges from the off-road DiRT to the street racing GRID, but the first franchise I always think of is their long running F1 series. For over nine years the Southam outfit has worked hard to perfect the fastest sport in the world and accurately translate it into the digital realm. F1 2017 is their latest attempt, and is arguably the finest in the entire series.

After F1 2016, which was, up until this point, the best game the team has produced, F1 2017 usurps its predecessor, catering to a variety of issues and heralding the return of the much beloved classic cars, F1 2017 boasts an improved career mode and an abundance of new additions that make for a formidable amount of content. From lights out F1 2017 hits all the right gears, and while the updated career mode follows the rough blueprint F1 2016 laid down, it still makes great strides technically.



Having signed away my first year in the seat to the abysmal McLaren Honda (I know, poor choice, but I'm a sucker for the Woking team) I was ushered through the improved hospitality suite Codemasters had touted. To be frank not much has changed here, while riveted to the desk with a laptop and cell phone for company, there is still a sense of annoyance at not being able to at least get up and explore your surroundings between races. Notably, you get a seat at another desk in the Engineers room where you can catch up with your chief engineer.


Photographic evidence of Eric Boullier quitting McLaren

Formula 1 is a battle, not just on the track but off it too, at the forefront of technology, and this furious race is implemented incredibly well. The new R&D tech tree, while daunting, plays a notably larger role in the ongoing championship season. Throughout the year you can introduce aero upgrades, improve reliability, boost the drive train or perfect your car's chassis. Codemasters have accurately replicated the real world development times, with upgrades often arriving two or three race weekends later. What's more is these upgrades can, in fact, fail and be completely redundant adding an extra level of risk. These upgrades can be introduced after earning enough resource points. Resource points work very similarly to the previous year and are accrued via mini-game tests during practice sessions. Additionally, resource points can be pocketed by completing various team tasks over a race weekend, for example qualifying higher than your rival or exceeding team expectations during a race. Win a driver rivalry and you will be promoted to 'first driver' netting you extra bonuses for development.


The R&D tech tree is no walk in Albert Park, but it does get easier, I promise

These macro management additions are compounded by the requirement of the player to keep an eye on vehicle management across the year. An F1 engine is a maze of parts, each of which needs to be constantly monitored and cared for, each part having a finite lifespan. When these parts fail, costs are incurred, usually at the expense of grid positions due to FIA penalties.

Without this review starting to sound too much like an engineer's guide to F1 engines (It already is? Sorry!) you'll need to keep a sharp eye on your engine or risk paying up for unnecessary replacements or worse, dropping out in the first few laps. In hindsight, my decision to sign with McLaren Honda was one of the greatest missteps of my life as race after race I was replacing various components. By the midpoint of the season, I had overstepped my allocation and was being penalized for every new part of my engine. There is, however a degree of damage control available to the player, drive conservatively, avoid contact with curbs and take care of your gearbox and you may just eek out two or three more races for your components. For F1 fans, these additions are what wet dreams are made of and their implementation is nothing short of genius on Codemasters' part.


A rare photo of textures doing their bloody job!

Lecture over, let's get to the racing! This year the FIA turned the sport on its head with a massive shakeup in the form of updated regulations which include wider tyres, improved aerodynamics (ugly T-wings included) and overall bigger cars to push the cars to their limits. These changes accurately reflect in-game as fat rears and improved down force allow for high-speed cornering and more aggressive racing.

There is much more bite in feedback on controller and wheel alike, the cars feel far more grounded and weighted beautifully. A noticeable improvement comes in the form of AI drivers, more often than not in previous years I have found myself swearing unintelligibly after being shunted across the track into the kitty litter after an attempted pass. This year, while still aggressive, AI is far more conservative and will pressure you, but not with the same candor they did before.

The unpredictability of car parts is always in the background and failures are common but fair. Many a race ended in disaster for me, but these never felt unprompted, with ample warning from your engineer to reduce stress to a certain part or be less aggressive, a failure is almost always your fault. Wheel to wheel battles are common, and the game won't allow for cheap defensive maneuvers, while rules are enforced strictly and decisively forcing you to tow the line. I initially did my best to block passes in my meager McLaren a-la Max Verstappen, but after consecutive drive-through penalties, I decided against this approach.


Monaco... my personal hell

The dynamic weather has seen an improvement too, with far more variation from last year, but not to the point where it feels unrealistic. Race weekends are far more unpredictable and pitting strategies have a greater sense of urgency and importance. This variation turns even the most mundane of races into a fight for the podium.

Optional extras allow you to race on any of the 20 tracks at any time of day and Monaco at midnight is a true sight to behold. In addition, there are a number of alternate track layouts in F1 2017, including shorter versions of Silverstone and Bahrain to name but a few. These are further bolstered by a wide range of events and modes which extend the lifespan of the title considerably.

F1 2017 pulls no punches in the visual department and I would go so far as to say that it looks even better than its predecessor. Track side views are impressive, foliage is fleshed out and less flat, the cars, with the new regulations, look aggressive and gorgeous. There is noticeable texture popping, even after the latest patch, which can sour the experience a bit. Sadly, the world is once again populated by Codemasters' awkward mannequin army. Drivers and crew all have the same plastic look from last year, and most of the game's cutscenes of busy garages, and even the post-race celebrations are reused assets from F1 2016. I have never seen the stoic Kimi Raikonnen smiling on the podium, yet he beams from ear to ear with joy in-game. It's a shame, given the global following of the sport, for some, the off-track drama of Formula 1 is more interesting than that of the racing. Codemasters have missed a great opportunity to flesh out the feeling of a real race weekend and its colorful characters.


Racing in some of the sports finest chariots, an absolute pleasure!

One of the most memorable titles in the series was undoubtedly F1 2013, for no other reason than the introduction of classic cars, tracks and drivers. While the drivers fell by the wayside, F1 2017 has mustered an impressive garage of greats to hit the tracks. From Senna's iconic 1988 Honda powered McLaren MP4/4 (Yeah, McLaren used to be awesome) to Michael Schumacher's gorgeous 2004 Ferrari F2004, Codemasters needed little else to get us running down nostalgia lane. There are 12 icons to race with and all feature throughout the career mode, cleverly implemented as a series of invitational events. Additionally there are a few classic championship modes and events to compete beyond the main game.

The vast differences in handling of cars from the late 80's to late 2000's is a testament to the development of the sport over the years. Even now, a single tear slides down my cheek when I think of hitting Eau Rouge flat out, in Mika Hakkinen's 1988 McLaren MP4/13. The sounds of yesteryear come alive too, the high-pitched whine of V10 engines downshifting is auditory bliss a stark contrast against the dull drone of today's hybrid power units.



Half the reason I play F1 games, and more so than other racers in the same sim-racing vein, is for the chance to emulate my Sunday afternoon heroes in my own space. From Lauda and Hunt to Senna and Prost, Schumacher and Hakkinen and beyond, Formula 1 has fuelled some of sport's greatest rivalries. Translating these magical battles into games is no easy task, but F1 2017 brings us closer to these wheel-to-wheel moments better than ever before. While not perfect, it ushers in a level of depth and strategy that few felt the series even needed.

Unpredictable and challenging yet deeply rewarding, the range of modes and options available make for what is Codemasters' finest outing since they picked up the license. The return of classic content shows that they are listening to fan feedback and are committed to realizing their goal of becoming "the world’s leading racing games developer".