While the likes of Forza, Project CARS and (occasionally) Gran Turismo often grab the headlines when it comes to racing sims, if you want all-out rubber-burning speed there's only one way to go - Codemasters' official Formula One series. The team at Codies has been working away on the franchise for a decade now, progressing the series with each new season of the sport. The heart of the game is, in keeping with the seasonal model of the sport, the career mode. Once upon a time any narrative in a sports or racing game was awkward, annoying and a bit laughable, but game design has moved along and, much like in many of today's best sports games, F1 2019 serves up a story that both adds drama and diversifies gameplay. You start out driving in the F2 Feeder series, which is based on scenarios taken straight out of the real 2018 F2 championship. You'll get embroiled in a rivalry with your teammates, Lukas Weber and Devon Butler, and a series of difficulties and conditions such as engine trouble or deciding whether to follow orders and let a teammate pass you. How you respond to these issues will in turn feed into your off-track dealings with the press and, in turn, your move up to the world of F1. Once you're out on the F1 track you'll notice a few changes, most noticeably in the form of improved handling and AI. You'll see your rivals perform either more aggressively or more passively depending on context such as the condition of their car, team performance and their relative positions. Online, players will find new League functionality that enables them to find and create their own leagues, get stuck in to weekly challenges and work on a 2019 F1 Regulation Car. There's also built-in Esports integration, with an area that brings news and highlights from the F1 Esports Series as well as easier access to online qualifiers and events viewing.
