Another year, another official F1 racing game. Codemasters just launched their newest entry F1 2019 and it seems like they stayed with the program. It’s very similar to last year’s entry but does come with some interesting changes. Let’s jump right in!

Enter F2

The biggest innovation is the addition of the F2 class, the one drivers are stuck in until they reach the F1 level. You can start your campaign in the lower F2 tier and it does come with some interesting changes. Instead of forcing you to drive an entire season, you’ll have to conquer three special events to prove your worthy of the F1 tracks. What I like most about this were the other characters, namely Devon and Lukas. Lukas is your alley who can help you out during races or who can be extremely thankful if you helped him out. Devon, on the other hand, is your main opponent, always trying to push you to your limit. I really like that they fleshed out these characters a bit more and your interaction with them or with the reporters during interviews really elevates the overall experience. You’ll really feel like an upcoming F1 star who has to deal with both the competition and the press interest.

What I don’t really understand is why this aspect drops to the background once you enter the F1 ring. Once you enter the F1 tier, you won’t see cutscenes showcasing your rival or buddy. Instead, you’ll follow them by reading transcripts in your mailbox. It’s fun to keep tabs on them but compared to the excessive interaction during the first hour, it’s a bit disappointing. You can also choose to start immediately in the F1 tier which will eliminate Devon and Lukas entirely since they won’t be joining the roster if you do so. My advice is to start with the F2 mode anyway since it’s fun to see where both drivers are going with their careers. Just like any other driver, they can switch teams, which is a fun little extra to keep an eye out for.

Legendary races

At its core, F1 2019 goes further on the path of its predecessors, meaning it’s still the best F1 simulator on the market and it even received some improvements over the year. While driving I couldn’t shake the feeling things went a bit more smoothly and everything looked even better than I remembered, especially the reflections. Long story short, yes, this still is the best F1 game on the market and it’s good to see that Codemasters stayed loyal to the formula. To spice things up a bit, they also added a legends mode where you can play a Senna and Prost, two of the biggest names in F1 history. This mode is completely free of charge if you fo for the Legends Edition in stores and delivers some nice extras.

Racing as Senna or Prost in a 1990 McLaren MP4/5B or Ferrari F1-90 will be reason enough to celebrate for many but it’s also good to know that this mode truly offers a challenge. If you want to win the race, you’ll have to work for it. The only major downside to it is the fact that there isn’t a real story created around those two legends. Instead, you’re just racing in invitational events, which could have been handled with a little more love if you ask me. Of course, fans will be more than thrilled to race with these two icons but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this mode had a lot more potential.

Multiplayer makes a solid return

If you’re tired of racing on your own, you can once more test your skills in the online modes. It’s basically the same as you’re used of in F1 games but Codemasters did add some wanted innovations. It’s easier to maintain your league, you can challenge yourself in weekly events where you can earn coins for cosmetic items. These skins won’t make you go any faster but are nice visual achievements for those willing to invest a lot of their time racing online. As said before, it’s more of the same but it’s handled with love and care. Racing online will keep you occupied until the next entry lands in the franchise.

Conclusion:

F1 2019 offers more of the same but that’s nothing to really complain about. It’s by far the best F1 simulator on the market so fans can easily pick this up in stores without questioning the quality. It adds in some great innovations with F2 being the best new thing in the game. It’s a bit of a shame not all modes are worked out to their full potential but you’ll have a lot of fun with the game as an F1 fan anyway.

8.5/10

Tested on Xbox One