The new era of motorsport’s premier class brings more atmosphere than ever, but might take fans for a spin in some respects.
With EA Sports F1 22, Codemasters faces a difficult task this year. Because the official game for the 2022 Formula 1 season is supposed to represent the top class of motorsport as realistically and in as much detail as possible. This does not only mean the driving experience of the 1,000 hp cars, but also the balance of power between the teams.
So far, the development studio has been able to rely on the data from reality. They knew that the cars were an evolution of the previous year’s models and even regular TV viewers were able to assess the pecking order in the field well.
This year, everything is different. That’s because Formula 1 in 2022 has undergone the biggest rules shake-up in its 72-year existence, and even in the real paddock there are still plenty of question marks over the classification and driving characteristics of the cars.
How does Codemasters deal with these uncertainties? We’ve climbed into the cockpit for you, done numerous laps and end up feeling conflicted inside.
Pure atmosphere and comfort
During a one-hour event, we were given a detailed insight into this year’s spin-off. Afterwards there was still the opportunity to ask questions. However, Codemasters was not yet able or allowed to comment on some points, such as the return of classic F1 race tracks. Creative Director Lee Mather only grinned meaningfully and referred to a later date.
It was therefore much more important for us to finally be able to play the game ourselves. After about five hours of play on the tachometer, however, we cannot yet give a hit guarantee.
What’s the point?
But what we can already say is this: The PS Party will not suffer from a lack of atmosphere this year. Codemasters is touting the largest overhaul of game mechanics and presentation in series history, and after extensive playthrough of our preview, we can broadly confirm this full-bodied announcement.
The displays are even more like the TV models from previous years and the immersion is impressive, especially in the cockpit perspective. When something is happening all around you, tyres and fuel want to be managed and you are ploughing through the field, F1 22 plays out the usual series strengths.
More atmosphere, more comfort, more realism: These three keywords describe this year’s innovations well. The cars now rely on the Groundeffect as an aerodynamic concept, on top of that there are new 18-inch tyres and the suspension geometry is also supposed to be simulated more credibly than ever – if that’s what you want.
Because this is another theme that is highlighted over and over again in F1 22: Accessibility. You can activate the advanced simulation of tyres, suspension and co. but you don’t have to. You can do the laps behind the safety car yourself, but you don’t have to. And you can now also take care of the correct approach and departure to your garage during the pit stop, but you don’t have to … oh, you can already guess.
Beginners should be picked up just as much as professionals. Those who want to can activate a number of comfort features and determine the level of challenge themselves. The new adaptive AI which is supposed to dynamically adapt to your driving skills, is also supposed to take care of this. How exactly this works, however, has not been explained. We have not yet been able to test this feature ourselves.
Many new features
For F1 22, Codemasters has implemented a number of new features that should appeal to connoisseurs of the subject matter in particular. The sprint races in the career are now based on the real calendar, but in other modes you can play the shorter format when and where you want to.
At the end of the formation lap, you are now also responsible for positioning your car correctly within the stop marks before the lights go out. The pit stop also wants to be completed flawlessly from now on, as already mentioned. But don’t worry, the AI can also slip up when picking up fresh tyres and lose valuable time.
We have to say goodbye to Jeff. Our longtime race engineer has been replaced by Marc Priestley. The name might mean something to some of you, as the gentleman worked for McLaren for many years and was, among other things, chief mechanic in Lewis Hamilton’s first World Championship year in 2008. His radio messages therefore seem very authentic, so it is with a heavy heart that we have to say one last time: Shut up, Jeff!
A particularly pleasant piece of news: Finally the game has full VR support! If you are in possession of glasses, you can prepare yourself for even more intensive races. Your head movements will then be seamlessly transferred into the game. This is especially helpful when looking into the side mirrors, which are difficult to focus on in the normal view mode without VR.
The story takes a break
All the new features are taking their toll. After only one year, the story mode has to sit out again. While in F1 2021 we were able to experience a cliché-laden but nicely implemented story with Breaking Point
this year we have to make do with a classic career or the My Team mode again.
Codemasters admits that the story has fallen by the wayside in view of the annual development cycle. At least there is still the My Team mode, where you create your own racing team and show the established teams how to win a world championship.
How long the road to success is is up to you. You can take the rank of an absolute newcomer and fight your way from the very back to the top. But if you like, you can also start as a midfield team or even step directly onto the track as a title aspirant.
This choice should also have an impact on your development resources. Although the official budget limit is not implemented in the game, you will still enjoy bonuses as a backbencher with regard to the development limit in order to be able to catch up faster.
You also have some freedom of choice as the boss of your own team: Interviews can be cancelled, the factory expansion paused or the maintenance of the wind tunnel postponed. But then you have to live with the consequences!
The Sims move into the F1 Paddock
Let’s move on to what is probably the most controversial new feature of 2022 for many fans. Under the name F1 Life, Codemasters introduces so-called lifestyle features. In concrete terms, this means: You create your own avatar, slip into brand-name clothes, equip yourself with tattoos and piercings and move into your own hipster loft.
And what do you do there? Decorate the room, of course, with carpets, leather sofas and other interiors. Once you’re done with that, you can invite your friends over, whose avatars can then walk around your flat and marvel at your sports cars.
Sports cars? That’s Formula 1, not Grid Legends!, you might be thinking now, but that’s actually how it is: you also collect expensive supercars over the course of your F1 career, which can be driven in the so-called Pirelli Hot Lap Events and other challenges such as Drift, Autocross or Checkpoint Challenge.
This watering down may not please many F1 purists, but it does make one cool detail possible. You can now also drive the official safety cars from Mercedes AMG and Aston Martin, which, as we all know, are also pretty high-tech beasts.
How do the new cars drive?
Since we are on the subject of the safety car: As we all know, the safety car only comes onto the track when there’s been a big crash. This begs the question whether Codemasters has finally improved the damage model. Unfortunately, we have to disappoint you, because front wings falling off and a few damages on the underbody are still the highest of feelings.
Finally, we come to the core discipline of a racing game, namely the driving physics. The improvements in tyre and chassis simulation mentioned at the beginning already have a noticeable effect on the steering behaviour of the prototypes, even though it is only the F1 show car in the respective team liveries. Especially at the entrance to the bends we feel the high weight of the new cars and controlled countersteering is the order of the day.
The bottom line is that the cars are pleasantly challenging, but also annoyingly unpredictable at times. F1 2021 was already a step backwards from its grandiose predecessor in some respects, especially when driving over the kerbs, and the 2022 game also surprised us with unpredictable spins that can rarely be caught.
So, now you’ve bravely read this far, and as we all know, diligence should be rewarded. That’s why I’ve recorded a lap on the brand new street circuit in Miami as well as a few laps in rainy Silverstone so you can get a first impression of the new driving behaviour.
Remember: This version is not final The cars are still placeholders and there will still be some fine-tuning in terms of driving physics before the release. The AI also still reacts very tamely, which is why my Rambo manoeuvres in Silverstone don’t end in a pile-up. But you want to offer your readers something, after all!
All-round carefree package or unnecessary ballast?
The first impression of F1 22 could hardly be more ambivalent. On the track, and that is the main discipline of the racing game, the numerous small innovations in terms of atmosphere do a lot right and once again provide a wonderfully intense and, if desired, very challenging spectacle. The driving behaviour still needs fine-tuning, but it seems coherent and has potential.
The new lifestyle features, on the other hand, are clearly a matter of taste. Those who have always dreamed of emulating Lewis Hamilton not only on the track but also in terms of body adornment could be happy with this. Nevertheless, the unpleasant feeling remains that Codemasters and publisher EA want to push their monetisation plans with F1 Life. 4.99 euros for the hip brand shirt? 1.99 euros for the golden nose ring? We’ll have to wait and see.
Do you have any questions about F1 22 that are on your racing mind? Feel free to post them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them!
Editor’s Verdict
I’ve spent easily over 1000 hours playing Codemasters racing games since F1 2010, so I’ve experienced all the highs and lows so far. Fortunately, I can already rule out a debacle like 2015 after the first play-through, the foundation on which Codemasters can now build is simply too good and extensive for that.
In the first year after this gigantic rule change, the driving physics don’t yet have to be one hundred percent perfect and are already a lot of fun. On the track, everything fits so far and the My Team mode should also keep me busy again for a few weeks.
Nevertheless, I can’t welcome some design decisions with open arms. Yes, I’m talking primarily about F1 Life, of course, although everyone can decide for themselves whether they like this new aspect. But the story mode, which has already been rationed away after one year, or the incomplete implementation of the new regulations (keyword: budget cap) also piss me off.
Even in times of the Netflix documentary Drive to Survive, Codemasters should not forget what this racing series is really about: no earrings and no time-limited paint jobs, but unadulterated action on the grey asphalt. Because the time of uncompetitiveness is over. After all, F1 Manager 2022 from Frontier is casting its shadow ahead and could become the new home for purists like me.
