F1 Manager Review for 2024

Platforms:  Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, GeForce Now, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

Genres:  Sports video game, Strategy video game, Simulation Game, Strategy

Developer:  Frontier Developments

Publisher:  Frontier Developments

Series:  F1 Manager

Engine:  Unreal Engine 5

We were truly amazed at how brilliantly the simulation wizards at Frontier Developments had combined the addictive strategic features of Motorsport Manager with the thrill of EA’s F1 series when F1 Manager debuted as a brand-new franchise on Xbox a few years ago. Then, when F1 Manager 2023 was released in July of last year, it turned out to be a more polished edition, and now F1 Manager 2024 is the greatest one yet.

This year, the “Create A Team” feature is the main attraction. It allows you to create your own Formula One team and compete against Mercedes and Ferrari. It functions much in the same way as the standard experience, but you can customize it to your preference. For example, you can select the drivers and staff you want, as well as the starting amount of money. A few customization features are also included, such the option to design your own logo (see our screenshots to see the Pure Xbox one!). It has swiftly emerged as our preferred F1 Manager mode.

If you played the game last year, the gameplay will look pretty familiar to you, but with a few interesting tweaks. It is now necessary to take mechanical failures into account, which makes maintaining the state of your car more crucial than ever, both on and off the track. There is also a mentality system in place that will influence your drivers and employees according on how happy they are. Additionally, a new sponsorship system gives you the opportunity to complete a number of activities to increase your income and marketability—but at the risk of having a detrimental impact on your team.

Though they occasionally don’t seem to be working together precisely, all of these aspects prove to be valuable additions and provide the experience more layers of strategy. The mindset system, in particular, occasionally feels a little off. However, the advantages far exceed the disadvantages.

Naturally, the most of your time in F1 Manager 2024 will be spent on the track, and the game performs admirably here as well. Practice sessions and the races themselves are exciting to oversee, and despite the increasing complexity that is introduced with every passing year, the control scheme is still simple to understand and intuitive. The Xbox version of the game is compatible with a mouse and keyboard, same like the 2023 version.

A new heli-cam camera angle has been added, which we’ve been using a lot in our time with the game so far. All of these realistic elements—mechanical failures, safety cars, large crashes, small crashes, delayed pit stops, and plenty more—combine to offer a varied gameplay experience from race to race.

That’s not to say we don’t still have a few little complaints and helpful criticisms. Feeling as though we must micromanage every move in a race becomes old quickly; in the future, it would be wonderful to have a “delegate” option for handling things like ERS and specific “overtake” and “defend” commands. Additionally, although it’s fantastic that you can choose from a variety of difficulty settings, there are times when the challenge level can not feel as balanced as it should. But don’t get us wrong—we think F1 Manager 2024 is great overall!

Review Overview

Gameplay – 85%

Story – N/A

Aesthetics – 80%

Content – 87%

Accessibility – 75%

Value – 88%

Overall Rating – 83%

Very Good

Summary: Frontier’s fantastic F1 Manager series is back for its third installment, and it’s better than ever thanks to a number of new features that improve upon the experience without reinventing the wheel. Even better, it’s coming far more affordably than it did this time last year, costing only £29.99 / $34.99 on Xbox systems! While casual fans may be content with F1 Manager 2023 on Xbox Game Pass for the time being, enthusiasts of the franchise should sign up as soon as possible to be on the starting grid for F1 Manager 2024.