If the dramatic 2022 British Grand Prix has inspired you to have a go yourself, the new F1 22 video game is here to help.
Out now, the game is available for Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation and Windows PC. The latter supports the use of a VR headset for the first time, designed to offer maximum immersion.
We headed out for some virtual laps to see whether the new game is worth adding to your collection.
Welcome to Miami
As the official game of Formula 1, F1 22 fully replicates the 2022 season. Spain, Australia and Abu Dhabi gain updated circuit layouts, and there’s the addition of the brand-new Miami Grand Prix track.
The biggest change are the 2022-specification Formula 1 cars. Designed to improve how closely competitors can race on track, they are the largest and heaviest Formula 1 racers ever built.
For those who mastered last year’s F1 2021 game, these new cars will provide a rude awakening. Do not expect to jump in the cockpit and instantly be at the front of the grid. The sheer size of the new cars, combined with the complexity of their ground effect aerodynamics, results in a steep learning curve.
Fortunately, F1 22 does include an array of driving assists to help players become familiar with the new machines.
This is your life
EA Sports has ditched the previous ‘Braking Point’ story mode for F1 22, with a new ‘F1 Life’ social hub making its debut. This allows players to show off their collection of supercars, personalise their luxury homes, and purchase clothes from an in-game shop.
F1 Life will feel familiar to anyone who has played the Test Drive Unlimited series of games. It adds little to the overall experience, and the handling of the various supercars is not a patch on dedicated racing games like Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport.
Other elements have continued from F1 2021, including My Team. This allows you to join the grid as your own Formula 1 constructor, and be responsible for managing your team to glory.
Players can compete in the Formula 2 support series, albeit still with cars from last season.
Two-player championship mode and various multiplayer options are also retained.
Mid-pack visualisation
In terms of presentation, F1 22 is virtually identical to previous versions. Aside from the F1 Life screens, the majority of menus will seem instantly familiar.
On-track graphics and effects also appear unchanged. Although accurate and detailed, there is still no doubt you are playing a video game when looking at F1 22.
One of the biggest differences for this year’s edition is the option to change commentators. Should you be bored of the frantic excitement of David Croft, F1 22 allows you to pick the accomplished Alex Jacques instead.
Sky Sports F1’s Natalie Pinkham makes a cameo appearance, too.
Sprinting up the grid
Another new feature for F1 22 is the inclusion of Sprint race weekends. Although they were introduced to the Formula 1 calendar last year, F1 22 is the first time they have appeared in a game.
Taking place between qualifying and the main race on Sunday, Sprint races are used to determine the starting grid for the full Grand Prix.
Being able to replicate them adds an extra degree of authenticity, even if some are still unconvinced by the whole Sprint race concept.
Dive into full immersion
New for 2022 includes the option of ‘Immersive’ or ‘Broadcast’ settings for dealing with formation laps, pit stops, and safety car periods.
Picking the Broadcast setting replicates what players would see when watching a race on TV. Control during these critical times is automated, although your virtual mechanics can still be faced with a stuck wheel during a pit stop.
Switching to Immersive puts the responsibility for lining up on the grid and stopping in your pit box all on you. Managing all these elements takes skill and precision, with manual race starts particularly challenging.
Get them right and you will gain real satisfaction, but do it wrong and you’ll go backwards faster than Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 career.
The chequered flag is in sight
Yearly updates for sports games means the pace of change is slow, with only minor tweaks on top of updated driver rosters and tracks. F1 22 is no different, with only a handful of significant features to separate it from F1 2021.
The biggest change for F1 22 clearly is the addition of the new-specification Formula 1 cars themselves, which do present a genuine challenge for experienced players.
Along with these, new tracks, the full-immersive race experience, and even the addition of a proper music playlist, there is just about enough here to justify upgrading from last year’s title.
Indeed, for those who want the most up-to-date Formula 1 video game, there really is no other choice.
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