5 Reasons to Be Excited For F1 Manager 2023

F1 Manager 2023 is now a matter of days away, but some players may still be unsure whether to buy the game. From new game modes to new features and even brand-new ways to see the action, here are five reasons to be excited for F1 Manager 2023.

5 Reasons to be Excited For F1 Manager 2023

Some players may be in doubt as to whether to buy F1 Manager 2023 after the slightly underwhelming response to last year’s debut in the series.

The game did release with expected features such as custom teams missing, and Frontier announced merely months after release that regular updates would cease, with minor bug fixes being the focus instead. So for those let down by last year’s game, why should they be excited about F1 Manager 2023?

Well as it turns out, Frontier has listened to player feedback from last year. New features have been introduced based on fan demand, existing game mechanics have been improved and the game now has a much deeper experience. Let’s find out why this year’s game is a must-buy.

New game modes

F1 Manager 2023 sees the debut of a new Race Replay game mode. Previously, players were limited to only playing career mode, but now they can reenact key moments from the real-life F1 season.

Race Replay scenarios challenge players to rewrite F1 history. From taking Fernando Alonso to victory in Monaco, to successfully getting Ferrari through a race without any strategy mishaps, there are plenty of ways to change F1 history. Race Replay isn’t just focused on the real-life F1 calendar though.

As part of the Deluxe Edition, players can gain access to a special scenario set in Las Vegas. Playing as Haas, this scenario tasks players with taking advantage of a late safety car to climb the grid by the chequered flag. Race Replay is almost reason enough to buy F1 Manager 2023, but it’s actually only the first entry on this list.

AI driver changes

Many F1 Manager 2022 players complained about the AI driving style last year. Cars would pull out of slipstreams far too soon, struggle to overtake, and then get stuck in a DRS train for lap after lap. Frontier has changed the AI to include new driving styles, giving the drivers much more personality.

In F1 Manager 2023, there are even more options when it comes to driver instructions. Instead of the basic instructions for ERS deployment and overtaking, this year introduces specialised orders for both attacking and defending. Now you can tell your drivers to push for an overtake, whilst also defending from the car behind.

These options are reflected in the driving styles. Drivers told to push will be a lot more aggressive on the track, especially in braking zones. On the other hand, drivers instructed to defend will place their cars in the centre of the track, preventing anyone behind from getting past. It’s not just instructions that affect driving style, however.

Also new to F1 Manager 2023 is driver confidence. Affected over the entire race weekend, confidence determines how likely your drivers will be able to pull off overtakes during the race. If you tell your driver to go aggressive when they have low confidence, they’ll be more likely to make a mistake and risk crashing out.

Pulling off the perfect overtake will increase driver confidence, as will giving your driver their preferred car setup. Failing to overtake or even making a mistake with the setup will lower driver confidence. A driver with no confidence will be a sitting duck out on track, so be sure to keep your drivers in the green zone when it comes to confidence.

Training your crews

In F1 Manager 2022, the only risks in pit stops were if you tried to rush that tyre change to get your driver back into the action. In F1 Manager 2023, the chance of your pit crews making mistakes is increased, but thankfully so are the ways to prevent costly errors.

F1 Manager 2023 introduces the Sporting Director role. Normally in real-life F1, you can hear the Sporting Director on the radio either trying to get a penalty rescinded or attempting to change the safety car regulations. In F1 Manager 2023, they are mainly responsible for your pit crew.

Once you’ve hired your preferred Sporting Director, you can instruct them on how to train your pit crew. Whether you want quick stops every time, with the risk of mistakes being made, or you prefer a slower but steady approach, your sporting director will then go away and work with your crew.

Pit crews are also responsible for setting up the car before and during sessions, so it’s crucial to get them trained exactly how you want them to work. It’s also important to not work your crew too hard, as a fatigued crew will be more likely to make mistakes during a pitstop.

New perspectives

F1 Manager 2022’s authentic broadcast presentation surprised everyone when the game launched last year. Players would have been happy with just a top-down view of the track, with dots representing the cars speeding around.

Instead, Frontier went the extra mile, with full 3D tracks with multiple camera angles bringing players as close to the action as possible.

For players expecting more of the same, Frontier has gone the extra mile again. This year sees a new visor cam added to F1 Manager 2023. Now players can literally see the action through the eyes of their drivers.

Suddenly those near-misses and high-octane overtakes are all too real when you’re viewing them through the helmet of your driver. Just remember it’s not real when you’re wincing at every corner in Baku!

New beginnings

One of the biggest complaints of F1 Manager 2022 was the inability to switch teams mid-save. This meant players had to see out their saves with the same team they started with. F1 Manager 2023 changes this.

Now players can play the first season with one team, then at the end of the season switch to a new team and try to beat the team they just left. Switching teams can only be done at the end of a season, but this is still a huge upgrade from last year.

On top of this, the contract system has been overhauled. Previously drivers and staff members could only be hired immediately. Now, there’s the option to hire new members of your team either instantly or at the end of the season.

For players looking to overhaul their team after a disappointing season, you can now initiate the Helmut Marko approach as early into the season as you want!