F1 23 My Team: New R&D system coming

Codemasters has lifted the covers off this year's F1 game, confirming that F1 23 My Team is getting a much-needed revamp.

First introduced in F1 2020, My Team allows you to become the eleventh team on the Formula 1 grid. Your team is fully customisable and this game mode has received universal acclaim since it was introduced.

What can we expect in F1 23 My Team? We've got everything you need to know right here!

Latest news - F1 23 announced with new R&D system

After months of anticipation, F1 23 has finally been revealed - and big changes are in store for the Career Mode that will impact My Team.

There will be a new R&D system for car upgrades where parts are rewarded for completing challenges and winning races.

Codemasters also confirmed that Las Vegas and Qatar will be in F1 23 at launch along with the return of the Braking Point story mode and red flags for the first time since F1 2014.

F1 23 My Team

As a recent leak suggested, My Team is getting a major update with a new R&D system.

In F1 23, players can unlock car upgrades, new liveries, race suits, and helmets by completing challenges. This is confirmed for the career mode and is also expected to be in My Team. F1 22's My Team was unchanged, so the new progression system should give it a much-needed refresh.

Codemasters hasn't confirmed if there are any other changes to the F1 23 My Team structure yet, however. Presumably, you'll start by choosing how far up the grid you want to start like in F1 22.

In F1 22, you have three options: Newcomer, Midfield Challenger or Championship Contender. Each comes with varying expectations for the season, as well as different amounts of money to invest.

What you choose to opt for is entirely down to you - there is no wrong or right answer here.

Assuming that the pecking order won't change too much for 2023, you could either start at the back (Williams, AlphaTauri & Haas), Midfield (McLaren, Alpine, Alfa Romeo & Aston Martin) or the front (Ferrari, Mercedes & Red Bull).

The higher up the grid you start, the more money and resource points you'll have available to you from the start. You'll also have better drivers to choose from when it comes to your second driver, thanks to your increased reputation.

Sponsors & engines

Your choice of sponsor was one of the most important in F1 22. Each has different expectations, investments and bonus rewards.

Codemasters has confirmed there will be a new upgrade system where points rewarded for your performance can be spent on upgrades. These points are called Tech Points according to a report by Insider Gaming. There will also be a stronger emphasis on sponsors, but Codemasters hasn't

"As you play, there will be strategists and sponsors that you contract out in order to benefit your team," the report says. "As you race and complete challenges, you’ll earn money, tech points, and expertise. If you happen to get parts you don’t want to use, you can salvage them for extra money or expertise."

In F1 22, the higher the expectation of the sponsors, the more money you can earn from it for the team. It's a high-stakes gamble, but if you choose the right one, you'll be very well rewarded.

Again, this is down to personal choice, but we always recommend going with an aspirational sponsor. This is due to the season being long, and achieving a podium, for example, at some point, is very possible.

Next up, you've got your engine supplier. Just like in F1 22, there will be four to choose from; Renault, Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari.

Given how the 2022 season went, we expect the Red Bull to be the best engine, with Ferrari and Mercedes around equal second. Renault will still probably be the worst option in terms of overall performance.

It's not just about speed though, but reliability too. Over a 23-race calendar, making three power units last the distance is incredibly difficult. Failing to do so will mean you face grid penalties in the latter part of the season.

Keep in mind the overall cost as well, as a cheaper engine will leave you with more money to play with when it comes to your facilities and second driver.

Not bad for a number two driver

It takes two to tango in a Formula 1 team and you'll need to pick a second driver for your outfit at the start of the game. On release day, you'll have the 2022 Formula 2 grid to choose from, and there are some great options here.

Given their performance levels in 2022, the likes of Felipe Drugovich, Jack Doohan, Theo Pourchaire and Liam Lawson should be the best choices to start a team.

While these drivers do have associations with F1 teams (Drugovich, for example, is the Aston reserve driver) this doesn't matter when it comes to choosing one.

While stopping you signing drivers with an F1 association would make the game more realistic, it's unlikely to come in, as this would lock over half the grid away from you.

Unfortunately, Logan Sargent won't be one of these options, as he's signed for Williams in real life. The same is true for 2021 F2 Champion Oscar Piastri, as he's been signed by for McLaren for 2023.

Starting your journey

After you've chosen your power unit, sponsors and second driver, it's time to dive into the new facilities you now call home.

In F1 22, there were four areas on the car to improve. These were the Aerodynamics, Power Unit, Chassis and Durability.

In general, upgrades to the Power Unit improved your straight-line speed, the Chassis improved your slow-speed cornering, Aerodynamics improved high-speed cornering and Durability improved your components' lifespan.

If the F1 23 default My Team car is similar to the F1 22 car then it will need improvements in every area of the car. It's best to choose the upgrades that are best to complete at that time.

All-round upgrades are best, as being great in one area but average in others doesn't make for a car which is good around most circuits.

Something that is often overlooked by My Team players are Activities. While they may seem trivial, they do improve your team in areas such as morale and efficiency.

Before advancing time to the next race, be sure to fill your days with events to give your team the boost they need. You can do this automatically as well by selecting Auto-fill (Square on PS, X on Xbox).

Driver Perks

Something else which many players overlook are the Driver Perks. You can find them by pressing Y on Xbox (Triangle on PS) within the contracts section in the Corporate tab.

We found that the Development Feedback perk was the best one to go with at first in F1 22. For $1.7m, you will see an increase of 10% to your Resource Point production, which will make a huge difference over the season.

Quick practice

One last thing that deserves a mention is Quick Practice. The F1 game is brilliant, but it isn't something you can play quickly when you're a busy person.

To make the fastest sport on Earth go a little quicker, you can opt for Quick Practices. These will give you the chance to achieve your goals in Practice without having to go to the circuit itself.

The AI will simulate your drivers trying to pass the Practice Programmes and depending on their stats and form, they may take a few attempts to pass.

The downside to this is that, especially in your first season, you'll want to learn the circuits for yourself before qualifying and the race. As the saying goes, there's no substitute for hard work and that's definitely true in F1!

F1 23 new features

My Team will be familiar if you've played Codemasters' F1 games since F1 2020, but F1 23 is bringing an array of new features to keep the experience fresh.

F1 23 sees the return of Braking Point with a new story focusing on Aiden Jackson and Devon Butler driving for the fictional Konnersport Racing team.

The new Las Vegas circuit and Qatar will be in F1 23 at launch, new handling will make the cars more satisfying to drive on a controller, and red flags are also returning for the first time since F1 2014.

F1 23 release date

The F1 23 release date is now confirmed.

F1 23 launches on 16 June on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via EA App, Epic Games Store, and Steam.

Players who pre-order the Champions Edition will get access three days early on 13 June.