A Sneak Peek at F1 Manager 2023: First Impressions and Insights

F1 Manager 2023: A Promising Update for Formula 1 Enthusiasts

Frontier Developments’ F1 Manager series created a buzz with last year’s F1 Manager 2022. The game managed to strike the right balance between accessibility and depth, satisfying both casual fans and hardcore enthusiasts. However, some players felt that it lacked the complexity seen in other sports management franchises like Football Manager and Out of the Park Baseball.

In response to this feedback, Frontier Developments has been hard at work on F1 Manager 2023. We had the opportunity to get hands-on with an early build of the game and see if they have addressed these concerns or stumbled along the way.

Race Replay Mode Takes Center Stage

The highlight of F1 Manager 2023 is undoubtedly its new game mode called Race Replay. This exciting addition allows players to jump into specific moments during real-world races and take control of their team’s destiny. Gone are mundane tasks like staff management and facility upkeep; instead, you can focus solely on guiding your team through intense race scenarios.

One such scenario we experienced was “Fernando’s Gamble” during this year’s Monaco Grand Prix. Taking control of Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team on lap 54 as rain poured down upon Sainte Devote corner, we made a daring decision to call in Fernando Alonso for intermediate tires. Despite a slow pitstop, we soon found ourselves back on track, while Max Verstappen struggled with dry rubber.

In a stunning turn of events, Alonso emerged from the pits ahead of Verstappen by a narrow margin. We then shifted our focus to preserving tire performance and charging the car’s battery. With each lap, Verstappen closed in on us, but we failed to instruct Alonso to defend his position. The result? Overtaken once again.

Using the new visor cam feature added in F1 Manager 2023, we got an immersive driver’s eye view as we battled alongside Verstappen. However, despite our best efforts towards the chequered flag, Alonso fell just short and secured yet another second-place finish.

The Realism of Aging and Younger Talent

F1 Manager 2023 introduces realistic aging mechanics for drivers like 41-year-old Fernando Alonso. As drivers age, their stats gradually decline over time forces players to scout younger talents who can deliver better results on the track.

This fresh take on career mode allows players to step into the shoes of teams like Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team in preparation for races such as British Grand Prix. Throughout this journey, you’ll encounter familiar screens along with exciting additions like a dedicated pit crew management menu.

The new pitcrew management menu enables you to finely tune your elite tire swappers’ training regime by focusing on essential operations such as jacking up cars or removing wheels – all under the watchful eye of your sporting director who is introduced for F1 Manager 2023.