F1 2019 is the closest I will ever get to being an actual Formula 1 driver, and actually, I am okay with that, thanks to F1 2019. The high-octane, twitch-steering motorsport driver has topped itself from previous year’s installment, and it’s not through the physics engine, racing tweaks, or even the vintage collection; it’s the story.

Finally, F1 2019 gives the series that much needed refreshment, in the form of the campaign, whereby you come from a Formula 2 feeder series into your journey as a Formula 1 driver. The 2018 Formula 2 season is not fully fledged, but rather offers a select number of races that you need to finish, complete with drama on the side, however, you can play the full season through the Championships mode. The small detail gives the F1 series a smidge more depth and scope, and I would love for the next installment to allow players the chance at a complete Formula 2 campaign.

Finally, F1 2019 gives the series that much needed refreshment, in the form of the campaign, whereby you come from a Formula 2 feeder series into your journey as a Formula 1 driver.

As other dedicated virtual motorsport athletes will most likely know, MotoGP 19, and the titles before it, have offered this kind of rookie progression, and it’s something that was missing in F1 2018, so it’s great to see Codemasters implement this mechanic. However, the feeder series is way too short, and we only start to get an idea of this rivalry between fictional drivers Devon and Lukas before it’s over. While the season is scripted and shown through pretty cinematics with interluding snippets of driving, watching it all unfold was great, so it would be fantastic as a longer series, or even a full Formula 2 campaign. There is the option to skip this as well, if you prefer to jump straight in, but we suggest you don’t.

After your F2 endeavours, you are asked to pick your F1 team for the season. Your choice of a team in F2 actually bears weight on your choice for F1, and usually results in higher standing with particular teams straight off the bat. Progression from here is pretty standard compared to previous year’s installments, allowing you to upgrade your car through R&D points you earn through racing, tweaking your cars performance for races, and regulating tyres and pit strategies. The detailing, though, of F1 2019 is an example of why the F1 games have always been the better racing sims, down to the real-world detailing of the game. Also, Devon and Lukas make a return in your F1 2019 career season, and you will be subject to interviews after races, giving you the chance to show your Sportmanship or Showmanship, which directly impacts your team and how they view you, as well as benefits if you oblige by your team’s preference.



Vehicle customisation has been given a little overhaul for the multiplayer side of F1 2019, with the introduction of custom car liveries, as well as non-team-specific gloves and accessories. The addition of the custom cars is welcomed, as it gives us the ability to create unique cars, which is always great.

The detailing, though, of F1 2019 is an example of why the F1 games have always been the better racing sims, down to the real-world detailing of the game.

Where F1 2019 really peaked me though, was the Senna vs. Prost content, as well as the Classic challenges. The Classic challenges are a part of the base game, thankfully, but the Senna vs. Prost content is paid DLC, and it’s one of the few times I would still say buy it, especially if you are an F1 fanatic. Classic challenges offer the chance for you to experience some of the greatest highlights in F1 history, in the most spoken about cars of the specified era. My greatest time here was driving the 1978 Ferrari 312T – the famous car of Niki Lauda and the same car that Jody Scheckter used to win the 1979 Driver’s Championship. Interesting fact, the 1975 original, which was the successor to the 312B3, made its debut race at the 1975 South African Grand Prix, as well as the 1978 and 1979 South African Grand Prix’s for those year’s variants.

My greatest time here was driving the 1978 Ferrari 312T – the famous car of Niki Lauda and the same car that Jody Scheckter used to win the 1979 Driver’s Championship.

The Senna vs. Prost content was pretty amazing too, usually tasking you with defeating your opponent depending in who you have chosen to race with, in their respective cars – a 1990 McLaren MP4/2B and a 1990 Ferrari F1-90 (aka Ferrari 641) respectively. Hearing the McLaren of yesteryear roar its way through the Italian Grand Prix Circuit was incredible, and the whining and screaming of the Ferrari’s 3.5-litre V-12 engine makes you wish the golden age of Formula 1 would return. There are a variety of challenges for you to partake in, and while the content is truly amazing, it is also pretty short, and it would have been nice to see the inclusion of the old-school footage, as MotoGP 19 incorporates with their Historical Challenges.



Overall, F1 2019 does an amazing job, once again, at making you feel like an actual Formula 1 driver, and the attention to detail is what has always set this franchise apart. The inclusion of F2 into the F1 campaign is fantastic, but it would be great to see it extended. The Classic content of old-school Formula 1 machines makes you miss the glory days, and is an excellent addition to your experience. F1 2019 continues to make the franchise as exciting and thrilling as ever before, and is the reason you should be playing racing simulators.



F1 2019 releases on June 28, 2019 for PC, Xbox One, and PS4.