F1 24 Preview: First Impressions, Handling & New Game Modes

The wait for Formula One fans is almost over, as F1 24 is going to release next week. We got to try a preview version - here's what we observed.

A new year means a new F1 season – and that means a new F1 game. F1 24 is lining up on the grid for its May 31 release, with those who preordered the title already getting access on May 28. Publisher EA Sports and developer Codemasters have promised a number of improvements and new features compared to F1 23, including an updated tire model, suspension systems, and different ways to play the popular Career modes.

In addition, the aerodynamics of the highly complex Grand Prix cars have also been subject to changes, with each car supposedly featuring a different aerodynamic model – which makes sense, considering the different designs of F1 cars.


Image: EA Sports

F1 24 Preview: Handling​

The aero improvements combined with the changes to suspension and tire models can make for quite different experiences when hitting the track, depending on the car. For instance, the Red Bull RB20 seems to be slightly more nervous when accelerating, particularly out of slow corners, than the Ferrari SF-24. The Italian car, on the other hand, requires a bit more care on the brake pedal in order not to lock up.

Downforce and its absence are noticeable, with the cars being able to make turns at ludicrous speeds, but once you head into a slow corner, that grip vanishes. This makes for a quite tricky experience, especially against the AI, who seem to have more grip than the player car under acceleration out of the slow-speed turns.

In general, the handling feels a bit more refined than in previous games, and without any assists enabled, it is challenging, but rewarding to try and master. You will encounter some quite sudden slides under power, but those can often be caught – perhaps the handling is a bit too forgiving in that sense, seeing how F1 cars are quite heavy these days, but quick hands will do you some good in trying to keep going straight.


The suspension model has been reworked for F1 24, alongside the tire model.

The same holds true for smooth pedal inputs. F1 cars do not have ABS or Traction Control, so without assists for those, they can be quite difficult to tame. Remember, you have a 1000 hp, 798 kg single seater at your disposal – they may look easy to drive when in the hands of real Formula One drivers, but they certainly are not. And when a high-downforce car with slicks loses grip, you do not have much time to react.

The braking in F1 24 struck us as a particularly nice improvement. Modulating the brakes and avoiding lock-ups works well. If one of your front tires goes for a smoke ahead of a turn, you usually know immediately how you messed up the braking – a good way to try a different approach in the following lap.

F1 24 Preview: Career Mode​

F1 24's career mode has been given some extra meat. If you are new to it, you might be overwhelmed by all the different features, currencies, values, systems and experience bars. Do not let that put you off though, most of it works in the background and meshes well together.

For years, fans have wanted to be able to race as one of the official F1, F2 or Junior drivers, which is finally possible in F1 24. You can also still create your own driver, even though we have been wondering for years when a cool character editor would finally arrive.

It is also possible to join the F1 circus with one of the icons included in the game. For some, it might feel out of place to start a season as Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher or Mika Häkkinen, but it is completely optional - and a nice option to have for those that might want it.

Meanwhile, keen observers will have noticed that the driver rating is much more prominent than in previous years. In F1 24, the driver you control also has these ratings, much like in "traditional" sports games like FIFA (now EA Sports FC) or the NHL series. These ratings also change based on your performance on the track, making the grid a dynamic environment as you progress through your season. And it has an immersive, role-playing feel to it, too - although some may be put off by ratings playing a part in how your own driver races, not their own skill behind the wheel.


We'll leave it up to you to judge if the the distribution of recognition at Red Bull accurately reflects reality.

The rating is also tied to the team-internal driver recognition, which shows the impact you have on your team's development, giving you advantages for R&D parts, bonuses for weekly resources or vice versa if you are the number two driver. These ratings change based on results, so you can lose your status (or improve it) by having a long streak mid-season. The rivalry system is also improved in this sense.

The new specialists, who work as external consultants and come to the races from time to time, give you additional goals and bonuses to complete and earn, so the Research & Development system becomes a bit more dynamic and deeper, especially since your teammate is now busy with development as well. There are many small, clever changes, new cutscenes and additions that simply make the career feel more intense. As the season progresses, elements such as driver changes, secret contract meetings and more surprises will be added.

F1 24 Challenge Career Mode​

One of the new ways to take all of these improvements and new features into action is the Challenge Career. This mode allows players to compete with others, but not in a direct fashion – instead, they are presented with certain career scenarios to conquer. Any goals they fulfill net them points, with the different difficulty settings acting as point multipliers – the more difficult your setting, the more points you get.

These scenarios are divided into chapters. In the preview version, we started out as Max Verstappen ahead of the Japanese and Emilia Romagna Grands Prix. The “normal” Career Mode elements are available in Challenge Career as well, so it feels like you are properly put into Verstappen's ongoing season.



By completing the chapters of a Challenge Career Mode scenario, you earn points, and these are used to rank you on a leaderboard. Anyone who plays these scenarios enters the leaderboards, giving players a new way to compete with each other, even while not actually racing each other. It is rather about who can master certain career scenarios the best – a mode with quite some potential, we feel.

Not everyone has the time to race online, or they might not want to due to the countless stories of open lobby carnage. This way, they can still compete in a race setting (unlike in Time Trial) and see how they rank among other F1 24 players.

Meanwhile, if you want to do a Career Mode deep dive with a friend, two-player Co-op Career is back in F1 24 as well - and we are tempted to give it a go once the game is out.

F1 24 Preview: Enough Changes For A New Title?​

Considering how racing game fans and sim racers all want something different out of their experiences, it is hard to judge whether or not the the aforementioned innovations justify a full price of $70 or more for the console or Champion Editions - also considering the fact that there were no driver changes for the teams in 2024.

In the end, players have to decide for themselves. In any case, our first impression is that you can definitely have a good time with F1 24. It may not necessarily appeal to the hardcore sim racers out there, but it does not have to. After all, we should not forget that F1 games are probably the most important gateway to our hobby other than the likes of Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport, and the reason for many out there to buy their first steering wheel.


Spa-Francorchamps has finally been updated for F1 24, reflecting the changes of recent years. Image_ EA Sports

We will follow up with more gameplay and a comparison of the updated tracks tomorrow, and soon with an in-depth review of the release version of F1 24, including VR hands-on, controller impressions, more details on how it feels with a wheel, and more.

F1 24 will race to PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on May 31. Those who preordered the game can start racing on May 28 already.

What are your impressions of F1 24 shortly before its release? Are you looking forward to giving it a go? Let us know on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!