Previewing the Hands-On Experience of F1 Manager in 2023

Race Replay Adds Thrills to F1 Manager 2023

In the world of sports management games, Frontier Developments’ F1 Manager series has been making waves. After a solid start with last year’s F1 Manager 2022, fans were eager to see if the developers could take the franchise to new heights with their latest installment.

One common criticism of F1 Manager 2022 was its lack of depth compared to other popular sports management franchises like Football Manager and Out of the Park Baseball. Fans longed for features such as junior formula simulation, sprint races, and more detailed tire modeling.

However, early reviews of F1 Manager 2023 suggest that Frontier Developments may have hit the mark this time around. One exciting addition is the Race Replay game mode. This feature allows players to immerse themselves in real-world race scenarios without getting bogged down by mundane tasks like staff management and facility upkeep.

A Glimpse into “Fernando’s Gamble”

The Race Replay we sampled took us straight into an intense moment at Monaco Grand Prix, infamously known for its unpredictable weather conditions. In lap 54, rain started pouring as Max Verstappen held a comfortable lead ahead of experienced driver Fernando Alonso.

Taking control of Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team at this critical point in the race allowed us to make strategic decisions on-the-fly. We immediately called Alonso into the pits for intermediate tires while pushing his fuel usage and ERS deployment to gain an advantage over his rivals.

Despite a less than perfect pit stop, Alonso quickly rejoined the race and capitalized on Verstappen’s struggle with dry rubber. As the Dutch champion pitted a lap later, Alonso emerged in front with a slim lead.

We modified our strategy to conserve tires’ performance by managing battery usage while keeping them cool. However, failing to instruct Alonso to defend his position against Verstappen proved costly as we were soon overtaken.

The Thrilling Chase and Realistic Aging

Throughout the remaining laps of this intense Race Replay experience, we utilized F1 Manager 2023’s new visor cam feature to witness the adrenaline-pumping pursuit from behind the wheel of Red Bull Racing car. Although Alonso fought valiantly until the end, he narrowly missed out on victory once again, finishing in second place.

In addition to captivating gameplay enhancements, F1 Manager 2023 introduces realistic aging for drivers like Fernando Alonso. As they age in-game, their stats naturally decline, forcing players to scout younger talent and plan for team succession.

Dive into Career Mode: British Grand Prix Preview

In our curated playthrough of F1 Manager 2023’s career mode preview segment leading up to the British Grand Prix, we took charge of Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. Familiar mechanics guided us through various screens showcasing new features like the enhanced pit crew management menu.

This new menu allows you to fine-tune your elite tire swappers’ training regime by focusing on crucial operations such as jacking up cars and loosening wheel nuts under the watchful eye of a dedicated sporting director—a novel addition for ’23.