That the new regulations and the next generation of F1 cars have caused some controversy halfway through their first season is probably no surprise to racing fans.
The heavier, ground-sucking, big-wheeled racers have created as many problems as they have solved, with ubiquitous bickering between teams and drivers, the classic hallmark of divided opinion. For Codemasters, the British studio that has been video game custodians for F1 since 2009, it’s quite the puzzle: how best to stay authentic in the sport, while preserving the thrill of the nerves?
So here we have the idealistic version of F1’s grand vision, running that line quite brilliantly. The handsome new engines are responsive and have a good grip on the tarmac, every bit of that ground force felt under your control. But without the pesky ‘porpoises’ that have caused such consternation and inflicted such pain on Lewis Hamilton.
You can also feel the weight here, cars twisting through chicanes and around slow switchbacks. This may not be such good news for those who preferred the nimble cars that came before it, but as a recreation of the sport as it is now and every inch of the vehicle is within reach, the shift in handling a triumph. Opponent AI is also cleverly done, combining competitive aggression with respecting the rules and etiquette.