Best F1 Video Games 2026: Every Formula 1 Game Ranked

First, the big 2026 change every F1 fan should know: there is no standalone "F1 26" game. According to EA Sports and Codemasters, the 2026 season was released as a paid 2026 Season Pack DLC for F1 25 on 3 June 2026 — the first time since 2008 that there is no new annual Formula 1 title. A fully "reimagined" F1 game is planned for 2027. So through 2026, the official F1 game to buy is F1 25, ideally with the 2026 Season Pack that adds the real 2026 regulations, the smaller active-aero cars, and the expanded 11-team grid.

That is only part of the picture, though. The best "F1 game" for you depends on whether you want to drive, manage, or compete online — so we have ranked the top picks across all three.

F1 Games by the Numbers

• No standalone game this year: per EA Sports, the 2026 season shipped as the F1 25 2026 Season Pack on 3 June 2026, the first year without a new annual F1 title since 2008, with a reimagined game due in 2027.
• An 11-team grid: the 2026 pack expands the in-game field to 11 teams as Audi and Cadillac officially join Formula 1, before you add a custom 12th entry in My Team mode (EA Sports / Wikipedia).
• The management series has ended: according to Frontier Developments, F1 Manager 2024 is the final entry in its series after the studio wound down the license — making it the last, and best-rounded, official F1 team-principal game.

Quick Picks: Best F1 Video Games

• Best Overall (Driving): F1 25 + 2026 Season Pack — the only licensed 2026 F1 game
• Best Budget Entry: F1 24 — same accessible handling, lower price
• Best Management Game: F1 Manager 2024 — run the team from the pit wall
• Best Online / Esports Sim: iRacing — the benchmark for competitive racing
• Best All-Round Racer (PS5): Gran Turismo 7 — with formula-style cars
• Best Hardcore Sim: Assetto Corsa Competizione — deep physics and mods

Top 6 F1 Video Games Reviewed

1. F1 25 (+ 2026 Season Pack) — Best Overall

F1 25 is the official Formula 1 game, and with the 2026 Season Pack it is the only way to race the real 2026 grid, drivers and tracks. Built by Codemasters and published by EA Sports, it covers everything from a full My Team career to the story-driven Braking Point mode, with driving assists that scale from arcade-easy to full simulation.

• Officially licensed 2026 grid, cars, tracks and drivers
• 2026 Season Pack adds active-aero cars and the 11-team field (Audi, Cadillac)
• My Team, career, Braking Point story and split-screen modes
• Plays on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, on controller or wheel

Because it is the licensed game, everything looks and sounds like the real thing — liveries, circuits, broadcast presentation and radio chatter included. If you want to be a 2026 F1 driver, this is the one to buy. Grab the version bundled with the 2026 Season Pack rather than the base 2025 season on its own.

2. F1 24 — Best Budget Entry

If you want the official F1 experience for less, F1 24 is now heavily discounted and still excellent. It introduced EA Sports Dynamic Handling for smoother, more responsive physics, and a revamped career mode where you build your reputation racing as real drivers, negotiate contracts and hit performance goals across a dynamic season.

• Same accessible EA Sports handling as F1 25
• Revamped driver-career mode with contracts and goals
• Braking Point 2 story mode included
• Frequently on sale — the cheapest way into official F1

The trade-off is the 2024 grid and calendar rather than 2026, but the core driving and modes are nearly identical to F1 25. For newcomers who want to try official F1 without paying full price, this is the smart entry point.

3. F1 Manager 2024 — Best Management Game

Prefer the strategy to the steering? F1 Manager 2024 puts you on the pit wall as team principal, calling the tyre strategy, developing the car and managing drivers and budget across a licensed season. Its headline Create a Team mode lets you build an 11th constructor from scratch — pick an engine supplier, design the livery, write a backstory and hire your own line-up.

• Official F1, F2 and F3 license with real teams and drivers
• Deep race strategy: tyres, fuel, pace modes and pit calls
• Create a Team mode to build your own 11th constructor
• Frontier's final and most complete F1 management game

Per Frontier Developments, this is the last entry in the series, which makes it the definitive F1 management sim rather than a placeholder. If listening to strategy calls on the radio is your favourite part of a Grand Prix, this is the game that lets you make them.

4. iRacing — Best Online / Esports Sim

For serious, properly matchmade online racing, iRacing is the benchmark and has been for years. It is a PC subscription sim with hourly, populated, ranked races across formula, GT, oval and dirt, laser-scanned tracks and a strict safety-rating system that keeps racing clean.

• The gold standard for competitive online sim racing
• Ranked, matchmade races running around the clock
• Open-wheel formula cars plus GT, oval and dirt disciplines
• Subscription model with buy-once car and track content

It is a PC-and-wheel affair rather than a casual controller game, and the subscription-plus-content model can add up. But if you want the closest thing to real, high-stakes wheel-to-wheel racing against other humans, nothing else matches it. Pair it with a direct-drive wheel and load-cell pedals for the full effect.

5. Gran Turismo 7 — Best All-Round Racer (PS5)

Gran Turismo 7 is not an F1 game, but it is the best all-round racing sim on PlayStation and includes high-downforce formula-style cars — like the Red Bull X and Super Formula machines — that scratch the open-wheel itch. Its Sport mode runs the FIA-certified online championships that launched several real racing careers.

• Huge car list including formula-style open-wheelers
• Gorgeous graphics and PSVR2 support on PS5
• FIA-certified online championships in Sport mode
• Great on a controller, superb on a wheel

If you own a PS5 and want one racing game that does everything — collecting, tuning, career and serious online competition — GT7 is the pick, and its formula cars are genuinely fast and rewarding to drive.

6. Assetto Corsa Competizione — Best Hardcore Sim

For the deepest driving physics and a thriving modding scene, Assetto Corsa Competizione is a favourite of hardcore sim racers. Officially it is the GT World Challenge game, but the wider Assetto Corsa ecosystem is famous for community mods that add formula and F1-style cars to laser-scanned circuits.

• Class-leading tyre and physics modelling
• Official GT racing plus huge modding community
• Best enjoyed on a force-feedback wheel and pedals
• Available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

It has a steeper learning curve and rewards a proper cockpit setup, so it is aimed at enthusiasts rather than newcomers. But if you want to feel every degree of slip through the wheel, it is one of the most rewarding drives you can buy.

F1 Video Games Comparison

How to Choose an F1 Game

Decide How You Want to Play

The single biggest question is whether you want to drive, manage, or compete online. Drivers should start with F1 25; strategists should pick F1 Manager 2024; online racers chasing clean, ranked competition should look at iRacing or GT7's Sport mode. Buying the wrong type is the most common regret.

Check Your Platform

F1 25, F1 24 and F1 Manager 2024 are cross-platform (PS5, Xbox, PC). Gran Turismo 7 is PlayStation-only, and iRacing is PC-only. Confirm the game runs on the console or PC you already own before buying.

Controller or Wheel?

Every official F1 game and GT7 plays well on a controller, so you do not need extra hardware to start. If you catch the bug, a force-feedback wheel and pedals transform the immersion and are close to essential for iRacing and Assetto Corsa. See our best racing wheel for PS5 and best sim racing wheel guides.

Match Difficulty to Experience

New to racing games? Use the driving assists — braking guides, traction control and racing lines — that F1 25 and F1 24 offer, then peel them back as you improve. Hardcore sims like iRacing and ACC have a steeper curve and reward practice and a proper cockpit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an F1 26 game?

No. For the first time since 2008 there is no standalone annual Formula 1 game. Instead, EA Sports and Codemasters released the 2026 season as a paid 2026 Season Pack DLC for F1 25 on 3 June 2026, updating the grid, cars and regulations. A fully reimagined F1 game is planned for 2027, so through 2026 the official F1 game to buy is F1 25 with the 2026 Season Pack.

What is the best F1 game in 2026?

For most fans the best F1 game in 2026 is F1 25 with the 2026 Season Pack, the only officially licensed game with the real 2026 grid, tracks and drivers on PlayStation, Xbox and PC. If you would rather run the team than drive, F1 Manager 2024 is the best F1 management game, and for serious online competition iRacing is the benchmark racing simulator.

Which F1 game is best for beginners?

F1 25 (with the 2026 Season Pack) is the most beginner-friendly, thanks to adjustable driving assists, braking guides, a shorter-race option and a casual handling mode. F1 24 is a cheaper way in with the same accessible EA Sports handling. Both let you dial difficulty from arcade-easy up to full simulation as you improve.

Do I need a steering wheel to play F1 games?

No. Every mainstream F1 game — F1 25, F1 24 and Gran Turismo 7 — plays perfectly well on a controller, and most players use one. A force-feedback wheel and pedals give more precision and immersion, and are close to essential for hardcore sims like iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione, but they are optional for the official F1 titles.

The Bottom Line

The best F1 video game in 2026 for most people is F1 25 with the 2026 Season Pack — the only licensed game with the real 2026 grid, and remember there is no separate "F1 26" title this year. Want the same experience for less? F1 24 is the budget pick. Prefer the pit wall to the cockpit? F1 Manager 2024 is the best management game, while iRacing is unbeatable for competitive online racing.

Once you are hooked, the hardware makes it real. Build out your setup with our guides to the best sim racing wheel, the best sim racing pedals, a stable sim racing cockpit and even a VR headset for sim racing. Shopping for a fan instead? Our best F1 LEGO sets and best F1 gifts for kids guides are full of ideas — then cue up the team radio that got you hooked in the first place.