With only two weeks until launch, F1 Manager 2024's final Feature Focus video has arrived in the paddock. This episode dives into how Frontier has worked to make the game the most realistic and authentic F1 game ever depicted.
Let’s take a look at the Races Brought To Life Feature Focus for F1 Manager 2024.
Updated visuals
Once again narrated by P1's Matt Gallagher, this final Feature Focus video shows how F1 Manager 2024 takes players into the heart of F1. This includes upgraded visuals, new features, and even tweaks to the smallest of details.
Frontier has dedicated resources to overhauling some of the tracks featured on the F1 calendar. This includes using real-world data to create accurate tyre marbling on the outside of corners, as well as improving trackside detailing and making the racing line more visible.
All of these improvements can be viewed from the usual camera angles, with F1 Manager 2024 also introducing a brand new angle for fans to watch the action. Those who enjoy a bird-eye view of races can do so with the heli cam.
Sweeping above the track from the moment the lights go out, the entire race can be viewed from the air. This includes witnessing epic overtakes, and spectacular crashes, and even admiring the fine work of the pit crew during every tyre change.
The heli cam sits nicely alongside the other camera angles available in F1 Manager 2024. Visor cam returns for those who can stomach watching the race from beside the drivers’ eyes, while the more traditional broadcast cameras still provide the high-octane views we’ve come to love.
Mechanical failures
One previous complaint about the F1 Manager series was the lack of random car failures during a race. Everything felt a little too predictable, with only severely damaged cars retiring from races.
F1 Manager 2024 answers those critics. Mechanical failures can now happen to any driver at any moment, with every component of the car at risk of giving out at the worst possible moment.
Temperature, part wear, and even specific kerbs can all increase the risk of failure. Now more than ever, using the driver tactics screen to help protect the car has never been so important.
Some mechanical issues can still be fixed during a race weekend. Whether that’s changing the affected part between sessions, at the risk of a penalty if in parc fermé, or via a pit stop, your engineers can help get the car back out on track.
For other failures, however, it could be the end of your driver’s race. In these instances, team principals will have to think quickly to potentially take advantage of their other car.
This also applies to AI drivers struggling with mechanical issues. A well-timed safety car could see your drivers climb up the grid, while a virtual safety car could ruin your perfect pit stop strategy.
We've seen first-hand how mechanical failures can change a race during our hands-on preview back in May. June's Frontier Unlocked stream also demonstrated the randomness of mechanical failures occurring during a race.
Racing behavior
Another aspect of the F1 Manager series that’s often criticized is the behavior of cars out on track. Any contact between cars in F1 Manager 2022 led to both stopping on track before starting off again, while impacts with the barriers never had the gravitas they warranted.
F1 Manager 2023 started to fix these issues, but not quite to the levels that fans expected. F1 Manager 2024 now resolves those issues, with cars acting far more realistically during race moments.
Cars now race more smoothly out on track, while any minor incidents see drivers recover more quickly. Driver battles have also been significantly upgraded as part of this process.
Whether it’s sending it up the inside in a heavy braking zone, flicking an overtake around the outside of a corner, or defending gallantly for those valuable points, drivers now act as you’d expect them to in high-pressure moments.
As team principal, it’s down to you to tell your drivers when to push and when to hold to ensure the car comes home in one piece. It’s also down to you to decide whether or not your drivers should fight one another, to either push for points or prevent an inter-team meltdown.
Brought to life
These are the headline features, but there are still plenty of other minor details coming this year worth celebrating. Each team now has accurate steering wheels, adding a neat little factor when viewing inside the cockpit.
The 2024 sprint race format is also included, with Sprint Qualifying taking place on Friday, before the Sprint itself early Saturday. This is then followed by the main qualifying session, also on Saturday, with the headline event on Sunday.
This is a big change from F1 Manager 2023, where the sprint race format was changed just before the season started. This meant the game was unable to accurately portray a sprint race weekend.
All of these smaller changes, when combined with the major additions, make F1 Manager 2024 the most realistic depiction of Formula 1 to date. Check out the Races Brought to Life Feature Focus video below:
F1 Manager 2024 release date and platforms
F1 Manager 2024 is due to launch just before F1 heads to its summer break. The game is set to release on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One on July 23. No early access period is available this year, with all players arriving on the grid on the same date.
Two editions of the game are available to purchase. The Standard Edition is available to preorder for £29.99 ($34.99) on all platforms. Preordering this edition will give players an extra F1 202024 Show Car livery preset for the new Create a Team mode.
The Deluxe Edition, priced at £39.99 ($44.99) on all platforms, comes with an additional five extra liveries for Create a Team. This is in addition to five fictional Race Replay events for players to play outside of their careers.
Frontier has also confirmed F1 Manager 2024 will be digital-only this year. This means there will be no physical version for completionists to collect.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get the latest racing game news and deals straight to your inbox!