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F1 2021 (video game)

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F1 2021
Cover art featuring Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
Developer(s)Codemasters
Publisher(s)EA Sports
Composer(s)
SeriesF1
EngineEGO Engine 4.0
Platform(s)
Release
  • WW: July 16, 2021 (Standard) OR July 13, 2021 (Deluxe)
Genre(s)
Mode(s)

F1 2021 is the official video game of the 2021 Formula One and Formula 2 Championships developed by Codemasters and published by EA Sports. It is the fourteenth title in the F1 series by Codemasters and the first in the series published by Electronic Arts under its EA Sports division since F1 Career Challenge in 2003, after Codemasters was acquired by Electronic Arts just a few months before the trailer was released.[1][2][3]

The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on 16 July 2021. The deluxe edition launched three days earlier on 13 July 2021.[4][5]

Development

Codemasters revealed F1 2021 on 15 April 2021, featuring a brand new story mode and new circuits Imola and Portimao, and the newcomer Jeddah.[6] The Marina Bay, Melbourne, Montreal and Suzuka circuits all feature in the game as originally intended, despite the cancellation of these races in real life due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. The Shanghai circuit also features in the game, as it forms part of the brand new Braking Point mode.[7]

For the first time in career mode it is now possible for two players to participate in career mode together, either as teammates or rivals.[8]

In May 2021, it was announced that seven Formula One world champions and legends would be selectable drivers in My Team: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button, David Coulthard and Felipe Massa.[9]

The visualization offered by the F1 2021 game has increased from the previous year, based on a more accurate sidetrack of the racing arena and the facial expressions of the characters in story mode.

Players can also form their own F1 team through the My Team feature. Through this feature, players will deal with the selection of sponsors and suppliers of car engines as well as the process of recruiting teammates.[10]

Story Mode: Braking Point

The game introduces the story mode Braking Point, set across three years (the end of the 2019 Formula 2 season, then the 2020 and 2021 Formula One seasons). According to a statement by Codemasters, Braking Point “immerses players into the glamorous world of Formula One, giving a taste of the lifestyle both on and off the track: the rivalries, emotion and dedication needed to compete at the highest level”.

Braking Point is based on the Netflix docuseries Formula 1: Drive to Survive. It is also the third EA Sports video game to have a story mode following FIFA's The Journey and Madden's The Longshot. There are five selectable teams in the mode: Racing Point (later Aston Martin), Scuderia AlphaTauri, Alfa Romeo Racing, Haas and Williams.

The protagonist of the story is Aiden Jackson, a rising British Formula 2 star who is ascending the ranks in the hope of becoming Formula One world champion. While he does put up a good front for the cameras, off the track he is struggling making the transition to Formula One, competing against the best drivers in the world. In the intro to the story and for the 2020 season portion of the story, the player assumes the role of Jackson.

Also in the story mode is Dutch veteran driver Casper Akkerman, who serves as Jackson’s teammate. As a veteran Formula One driver (sharing some characteristics and traits with Kimi Räikkönen), he is more mature and experienced than Jackson. With a wave of a new generation of drivers bursting onto the Formula One scene, Akkerman is struggling to stay competitive in the twilight of his career. He is married to Zoe, with whom he has a daughter named Lily. Zoe is aware of the sacrifices her husband makes to stay competitive in Formula One. For the 2021 season portion of the story, focus switches to Akkerman.

Devon Butler, a character who featured in F1 2019 during the three-race scenario called the Formula 2 Feeder Series, returns as Jackson’s rival. Lukas Weber, also from F1 2019, makes an off-screen appearance via email, in which he surprisingly says his favourite film in the Cars franchise is the much-criticised second movie.

Whichever team the player chooses, the character Brian Doyle appears as a direct liaison to the team principal.[11]

Plot

After winning the 2019 Formula 2 Championship with Carlin, Aiden Jackson secures a drive with a Formula One team for the 2020 season. However, Jackson has a rocky start to his Formula One career as he makes contact with teammate Casper Akkerman in the season opener in Australia. Jackson refuses to admit that the contact was his fault, frustrating Akkerman. Little did the two know was that rival driver Devon Butler had caused that incident by making it three-wide in a turn. To add insult to injury, Butler himself stirs up tensions between Jackson and Akkerman, which start to mount during the Chinese Grand Prix, where Akkerman forces Jackson off the track after overtaking him.

Going into the mid-season, the team still finds itself struggling in the Constructors’ Championship as Jackson is still unable to get along with Akkerman. Their relationship continues to worsen when Akkerman finds out that Jackson has been given the updated power unit instead of him. The team heads to Mexico, still desperate for points to secure their place above the rest of the midfield teams, but their hopes are shattered when Jackson and Akkerman, unwilling to cede their positions, collide and take each other out. After the race, Brian Doyle sternly reprimands the two, reminding them that the team is bigger than their problems, but also threatening to sack both of them from the team if they keep causing more trouble with each other.

The tensions carry over to the 2021 season. Akkerman is frustrated, feeling that the team seems to have started treating Jackson as the number one driver as he gets priorities on both qualifying and pit strategy. At the Canadian Grand Prix, Akkerman refuses to let Jackson pass, resulting in a heated argument between the two drivers in the paddock, during which Akkerman inadvertently declares his retirement (although Akkerman later clarifies that he had already planned to retire at the start of the season and is not caused by the incident as Jackson seemed to believe). Akkerman’s strong performances keep the team in the fight, but the tensions between the two drivers still don’t show any signs of resolution.

At the team dinner, Doyle brings Akkerman and Jackson together to discuss their problems. The two finally find out that their hostility towards each other was actually fuelled by false rumours and gossip spread by Devon Butler. Akkerman is angered that he had blindly believed Butler’s lies all along, and he regrets his gullibility. With their differences sorted and their feud put behind them, Akkerman and Jackson work together to beat Butler’s team and get their team to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship.

At the final race in Abu Dhabi, Butler's teammate retires from the race due to mechanical issues. Taking advantage of this, Akkerman leads Butler into the final part of the race. While attempting an overtake, Butler collides with Akkerman, resulting in both sustaining major damage to their cars. With Butler out of the race, Akkerman is still able to continue and gives up his position to Jackson, passing on a radio message telling him to finish the race on the podium. Jackson successfully gets onto the podium and the two drivers celebrate together after the race.

A post credits scene reveals that Aiden Jackson is negotiating a contract to drive for one of the big teams (Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, or Ferrari).

Reception

F1 2021 received "generally favorable" reviews for PC, PlayStation 4, 5, and Xbox Series X, according to review aggregator Metacritic.

References

  1. ^ Kerr, Chris (January 22, 2021). "Codemasters' directors vote in favor of $1.2 billion EA acquisition". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  2. ^ Robinson, Andy (February 18, 2021). "EA has officially completed its purchase of Codemasters". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on February 18, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  3. ^ Quinn, Nathan (April 15, 2021). "F1 2021 game to feature story mode, 'classic drivers'". The Race. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  4. ^ Bliss, Nathan (15 April 2021). "F1 2021 game release date confirmed with feature news and three brand new tracks". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  5. ^ "F1 2021 Video Game: What will the Deluxe Edition include?". GiveMeSport. June 29, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  6. ^ Smith, Luke (April 15, 2021). "F1 2021 game to feature story mode and three new circuits". Motorsport.com. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  7. ^ Good, Owen S. (February 6, 2021). "F1 2021 doubles down on realism — both on and off the track". Polygon. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  8. ^ Good, Owen S. (April 1, 2021). "F1 2021 coming in July, with co-op/competitive career mode". Polygon. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  9. ^ "New F1 2021 game trailer reveals Schumacher, Senna, and Prost are among 7 iconic drivers featured in Deluxe Edition". Formula 1. May 17, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  10. ^ Gamer, Suhu (2021-08-24). "Review Game F1 2021: Tetap Seru, Tetapi Tidak Baru". Suhu Gamer (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2021-08-26.
  11. ^ "Feel the Rush and Live the Drama in F1® 2021 – A Next-Gen Experience From Codemasters®". EA News. April 15, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  12. ^ "F1 2021 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  13. ^ "F1 2021 for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  14. ^ "F1 2021 for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  15. ^ "F1 2021 for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  16. ^ Reilly, Luke (30 August 2021). "F1 2021 Review". IGN. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  17. ^ Towell, Justin (30 August 2021). "F1 2021 review". PCGamer. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  18. ^ Towell, Justin (30 August 2021). "F1 2021 review – meet the new boss, same as the old boss". PCGamesN. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  19. ^ Robinson, Martin (July 26, 2021). "F1 2021 review - old dog, new tricks". Eurogamer. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  20. ^ "F1 2021 Review (PS5) | Aces high". Push Square. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
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