F1 2016’s new career mode will take drivers deeper into the world’s most glamorous, exciting and prestigious motorsport, both on and off the track. The life-like recreation of the sport will be further enhanced by the addition of the sport’s iconic Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car, as well as the introduction of the challenging new street circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan for the 2016 Formula 1 Grand Prix Of Europe.

““The new career mode sits at the heart of the game and allows gamers to create their own legend over a career that can span for up to a massive ten seasons. Beyond improving upon the fastest and most thrilling on-track racing experience in gaming, F1 2016 uniquely offers the drama and vehicle development that goes on behind the scenes. A rich car upgrade system is fully integrated into a new and deep practice development programme which mirrors the tests carried out by the teams in real life.”

“The career mode, together with the re-introduction of the Safety Car, the first inclusion of the Virtual Safety Car and a number of other unannounced improvements means that F1 2016 will have more new features than any other year of the franchise.”

F1 2016 will feature Multiplayer Championship, a brand new game mode that allows up to 22 players to compete against each other over the course of a season. The new mode allows players to race as team mates or to battle it out as different teams as well as offering great possibilities for league play.

In F1 2016’s Career Mode, players select their character, helmet and race number that will stay with them throughout their time in Formula One. They then select which of the 11 official teams they wish to join to start their journey, as well as which member of the team will be their team-mate, before taking to the track for the first race of the season. The higher ranked teams will have steeper expectations for the player.

The in-race experience has never been more immersive. Players will experience the tension of the Formation Lap as they weave to warm their tires, before facing the drama of the manual race start, where they have to balance their revs and release the clutch at the right time. Get this wrong and players could jump the start and face a penalty or fail to get away from the line as the anti-stall kicks in.

Race strategy is also vital as players battle their rivals. For Pit Stops they can choose to have control of the Pit Lane entry, meaning they have to brake at the right time to avoid losing too much time but also to avoid speeding in the Pit lane. Strategy will be key, especially under Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car conditions.

The action continues off the track and into the Paddock and Hospitality areas. Over the course of the Career, players can decide how they want to upgrade their car by consulting with the Research and Development Engineer on areas for improvement, and by completing tasks during Practice sessions. They can either upgrade their team over a number of seasons to make it into a title challenger or they can negotiate with their Agent to move between teams to work their way up the grid.

Both the Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car are featured in this year’s game; they will be complimented by the addition of manual race starts, adding to the pressure on the driver as they sit on the grid. They will have to engage the clutch and balance the revs as they wait for the lights to go out. Reaction times are vital to avoid a jump start by going too early or getting stuck on the grid as the anti-stall engages.

The driver will also be able to have manual control over their pit lane entry and braking as they look to minimize the time they lose when pitting. They will also need to brake in time to avoid a penalty for speeding in the pit lane. This year’s game also includes the new five second pit stop penalt

With multiplayer support for up to 22 drivers, F1 2016 allows players to form a full grid of human players across the 21 circuits featured in the 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship, including the tight Baku street circuit, the latest addition to the calendar. In single player, gamers are able to create their own legend in the expansive Career Mode which stretches for up to ten seasons and includes drama both on and off the track.

To complement the on-track experience, and to expand the realism of the Career mode, F1 2016 includes stunning hospitality areas for each team that act as the player’s game hub. In this area they will work with their Research and Development Engineer and Player Agent to develop their progress both on and off the track. To further enhance the immersion, players will also be able to spot other key figures from the paddock within the hospitality areas.