{"id":1004226,"date":"2026-06-04T05:51:38","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T05:51:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1004226\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T05:51:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T05:51:38","slug":"f1-25s-2026-season-pack-review-accurate-cars-but-not-quite-enough-value","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1004226\/","title":{"rendered":"F1 25’s 2026 Season Pack review – accurate cars, but not quite enough value"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a racing fan, you\u2019re probably expecting to see another annual Formula 1 game from EA\/Codemasters right about now, considering the series\u2019 late spring\/early summer release cadence.<\/p>\n

However, for 2026, the developer has opted to release an expansion DLC for last year\u2019s F1 25, adding all the teams, drivers and tracks of the current season alongside F1\u2019s radically different ruleset. So that means Cadillac boosts the grid to 22 cars (24 if you create your own outfit in My Team), the Madring joins the circuit roster, and Sauber is rebranded as Audi.<\/p>\n

As a result, the F1 25: 2026 Season Pack could be viewed as a stopgap solution until a\u201cdeeply authentic\u201d and \u201creimagined\u201d game appears in 2027<\/a>, and, on face value, it certainly feels this way.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

For example, it\u2019s impossible to race the new generation of cars in Ranked Multiplayer, Co-op Career, F1 World Series, Leagues, or Challenge Career modes, leaving only My Team, Driver Career, Unranked Multiplayer, Time Trial, and Custom Grand Prix. You must also use a new save file; the new cars cannot be transferred into an existing F1 25 career.<\/p>\n

As some consolation, the\u00a02026 Season Pack is priced lower than a full release ($29.99 \/ \u20ac29.99 \/ \u00a324.99 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S and $24.99 \/ \u20ac24.99 \/ \u00a321.99 on PC ), but with fewer game modes, can it truly be considered a vital upgrade for F1 fans?<\/p>\n

Out with the old\u2026\"F1<\/p>\n

F1\u2019s hybrid rules have been given a massive shake-up for 2026, with cars now featuring a 50\/50 split in power (around 470 bhp from each) between the internal combustion engine (ICE) and the Motor Generator Unit \u2013 Kinetic (MGU-K).\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 2026 F1 vehicles still harvest electrical energy while on the throttle, under braking, and while coasting, sending the charge to a high-capacity battery that drives the MGU-K on the rear axle.<\/p>\n

Because of the increased reliance on electrical power, it\u2019s never been more important to harvest energy in F1, forcing drivers to lift and coast (LiCO) more often to keep their battery topped up (lift and coast is a driving technique where you completely lift your foot off the throttle before a braking zone, allowing the vehicle to slow down using aerodynamic drag before applying the brakes).<\/p>\n

\"F1<\/p>\n

In this respect, the 2026 Season Pack delivers, mimicking the mental gymnastics that real F1 drivers have to perform to stay on pace. LiCO is extremely effective in topping up the battery, and the performance gains from deploying this charge are vital. Your engineer will pipe up on the radio to tell you this constantly. Leave me alone, Marc, I know what I\u2019m doing.<\/p>\n

Weight saving<\/p>\n

Also notable is that the new cars feel more reactive, which could be down to the 30 Kg drop in mass from 2025. There\u2019s a sense of greater stability in traction zones, although progressive throttle application is still required to stop your car spinning out \u00e0 la Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen in Miami.<\/p>\n

In terms of engine audio, the cars sound almost identical to the 2025-spec machines, which makes sense given they retain the same 1.6-litre turbocharged V6. Many will also be glad to know that the Honda motor in the back of the Aston Martin doesn\u2019t shake itself to bits in-game\u2026<\/p>\n

New systemsOvertake\"F1<\/p>\n

F1\u2019s new Overtake Mode and Active Aero have also been replicated, with the former allowing drivers to harvest and deploy an extra 0.5 megajoules of energy per lap when within one second of the car ahead.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This makes a huge difference in lap time and is the main reason we\u2019ve seen so many overtakes this season. It works well in-game, too, and is best used on long straights for maximum effectiveness. Normally, drivers cannot use 100% boost past 290 kph, but Overtake mode \u2013 denoted by a blue HUD \u2013 overrides this, helping the attacking driver close in on their opponent.<\/p>\n

The AI appears to use its battery charge well, but it felt like Overtake mode was a bit of a cheat code at times, such was the ease with which I could pass cars. I guess that\u2019s how it feels for the real drivers, too.<\/p>\n

For those who don\u2019t want the extra hassle of these systems, the game naturally offers assists to take control, and they don\u2019t detract much from the core gameplay.<\/p>\n

Active Aero\"F1F1 25\u2019s photo mode continues to provide dynamic shots<\/p>\n

Active Aero essentially replaces the outgoing DRS system.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There are two phases of AA: the first is \u2018Cornering Mode\u2019, the default state of each car, featuring the highest levels of aerodynamic drag and grip. The second is \u2018Straight Mode\u2019, which works similarly to DRS in that it can only be activated through certain zones. This shifts the cars\u2019 rear and front wings into their low-drag positions, increasing top speed.<\/p>\n

The animations look spot-on in-game, but nothing has really changed from DRS: you still need to press a button to activate the S-Mode system in the designated zone; the only difference is that you can activate it on every lap.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It does affect your potential LiCO strategy, however, as the Active Aero only works when the throttle pedal is fully depressed. So, if you lift off early before a corner, bear in mind that this will significantly affect your speed.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a bit of a shame we can\u2019t see Ferrari and Red Bull\u2019s revolving rear wings, though, but a post-release Sports Update, featuring more liveries and more accurate car models, might put this right.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Active Aero isn\u2019t permitted around the confines of the Monaco street circuit, however, so that\u2019s an authentic flourish captured by the developers.<\/p>\n

Super-clipping\"F1<\/p>\n

Super-clipping. In the words of EA SPORTS, \u2018It\u2019s in the game\u2019.<\/p>\n

Super-clipping debuts in the F1 series, mirroring the phenomenon of a car harvesting energy at full throttle. It was a source of embarrassment for F1 at the beginning of the season, as it often led to cars slowing down \u2013 even downshifting \u2013 when they should have been approaching terminal velocity.<\/p>\n

After some rules tweaks following a frightening incident between Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto at Suzuka, the effect is less pronounced, but it\u2019s definitely in the 2026 Season Pack. Some fans may not like it, but it\u2019s a key facet of F1\u2019s latest regulations.<\/p>\n

To maintain sufficient battery charge, players can choose from four Energy Recovery System (ERS) deployment modes: Medium, Boost, Hotlap, and None.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You can select None to help build and maintain battery charge for a future overtake or quick lap, but this may leave you vulnerable, while Hotlap and Boost deploy charge more aggressively. Hotlap is ideal for qualifying, while Boost is better suited to short bursts of defending and attacking.<\/p>\n

For the most part, selecting Medium and using the occasional manual Boost (remember to map this!) strikes a good balance between harvesting and outright pace.<\/p>\n

Changes?\"F1My Team continues to be an involving career experience<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re wondering why I\u2019ve spent so long nattering about the new rules and how the cars drive, it\u2019s because there\u2019s not much else to discuss with the new DLC.<\/p>\n

As you\u2019d expect, it\u2019s the same core F1 25 experience with new cars and rules, but there\u2019s also scant innovation in the Driver Career and My Team modes, barring a few minor enhancements (practice programmes, for example).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thankfully, there\u2019s at least one new track to race on, Spain\u2019s IFEMA Madrid Circuit, or Madring, for short. It was created using CAD data provided by the track\u2019s creators, but can only be driven using the 2026 cars in-game.<\/p>\n

\"F1La Monumental is an incredible, steeply-banked turn that can be driven flat-out<\/p>\n

It\u2019s yet another street circuit, but there\u2019s a twist: elevation change. After just a few laps in-game, I can already tell this will be a driver favourite, thanks to blind crests, high speeds, and the incredible La Monumental banked right-hander. It should be a cracker. We will have to wait until September to find out whether the developers have nailed its design, though.<\/p>\n

There have been no further layout changes across the rest of the track roster, however, which is a shame given we were treated to five full laser-scanned upgrades in F1 25<\/a>, but it\u2019s a common theme with the 2026 Season Pack.<\/p>\n

\"F1Carlos Sainz will be hoping for a good result in his second home Grand PrixControls<\/p>\n

As ever, the EA\/Codemasters F1 games are designed primarily for gamepad users, and the 2026 Season Pack doesn\u2019t disappoint in this regard. Driving with a controller feels weighty and predictable, striking a nice balance between accessibility and precision.<\/p>\n

More surprising is how it feels with a steering wheel, with my brand-new Simagic Zeus Formula steering wheel<\/a> immediately mappable alongside my Moza mBooster pedals<\/a>. It\u2019s missing that last increment of ultimate feel, in my opinion, but I still had no problem being immersed in the game\u2019s approachable vehicle dynamics.<\/p>\n

The DLC\u2019s user interface feels familiar and friendly, but with every passing year, you sense that Codemasters\u2019 Ego engine requires a refresh due to pop-in and occasionally bland textures.<\/p>\n

Conclusion\"F1<\/p>\n

For those who don\u2019t own F1 25, the 2026 Season Pack DLC is bundled with the game in a \u2018Season Edition\u2019 pack for $49.99 \/ \u20ac59.99 \/ \u00a349.99 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S and $49.99 \/ \u20ac49.99 \/ \u00a344.99 on PC.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Even as a $29.99 \/ \u00a321.99 DLC expansion, the price seems steep given how many modes are locked for the new cars, but there are some unconfirmed live service features set to appear at a later date. It\u2019s also not known when (or if) we\u2019ll see current-season Formula 2 content appear post-release.<\/p>\n

However, the new DLC does a solid job of bringing the 2026 F1 season to life, with its depiction of the new rules and regulations feeling impressively authentic. Just don\u2019t expect to find vastly different gameplay compared to the base F1 25 experience.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re an F1 fan who hasn\u2019t purchased an EA\/Codemasters F1 game for quite some time, or if this is your introduction to the series, the Season Edition is an easy recommendation. For everyone else, I\u2019d say hold off until 2027.<\/p>\n

Score: 7\/10\u201cAuthentic 2026 F1 racing, but not much else\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As a racing fan, you\u2019re probably expecting to see another annual Formula 1 game from EA\/Codemasters right about…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1004227,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[7],"tags":[3282,342,53,16,15,344],"class_list":["post-1004226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-pc-gaming","tag-playstation","tag-technology","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-xbox-series-xs"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116690281965945604","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1004226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1004226"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1004226\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1004227"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1004226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1004226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1004226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}