Building on the exciting new partnership with Max Verstappen, who now boasts EA Sports branding on the chin of his helmet, the back-to-back World Champion is confirmed as the cover star for the digital-exclusive F1 23 Champions Edition.

Braking Point returns for a bold new chapter following the careers of young upstart Aiden Jackson, and protagonist, Devon Butler, now teammates for Konnersport Racing Team, a fledgling organization hoping to succeed against the current real-world F1 teams and drivers. Adding a host of new characters, fresh rivalries, and racing challenges, both aim to take their careers to the next level, but there will be twists, turns, and pitfalls along the way.

F1 23’s handling has been upgraded from last season, allowing for more predictable behavior, and new vehicle physics gives the cars better traction when braking, accelerating, and cornering. By incorporating actual F1 team feedback, a greater balance between aerodynamics and tyre grip results in a more realistic feel. Engine torque and inertia improvements also mean throttle control is more authentic and offers a greater level of connection to the car. Alongside these improvements, Precision Drive controller technology will give pad players better control and confidence in those crucial race moments.

Electronic Arts presents a ‘Free to Play’ weekend to celebrate the inaugural Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023.

F1 23 has raised the stakes and prepared a series of activities and challenges in and outside the game for fans to enjoy. Players will be able to lay down rubber on the famous Las Vegas Strip, challenge Charles Leclerc’s fastest lap, unlock new #LasVegasGP-themed rewards, and more. Scuderia AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo, EA SPORTS Ambassador Max Verstappen and British boxing Champion Anthony Joshua also join in the fun and take on the boulevard on  F1 23.

From November 16th to November 20th**, players worldwide will have the opportunity to experience the dazzling Las Vegas Grand Prix Circuit and play F1 23 for free on PS4 and PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam). Those racing in-game through the weekend will earn double XP across various game modes and other rewards. New players looking to purchase the game can also check out special price promotions of up to 60% off ordinary retail price from platform retailers during those dates, all in-game progress and unlocked content would be saved from the trial.

Adding to the excitement, EA SPORTS will host a star-studded event at the HyperX Arena Las Vegas. The event will witness worlds collide as big names from sports, gaming, and beyond, come together to kick off the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023 weekend, tune in to the official Formula 1 Youtube channel on November 15 at 1 pm PT to watch it. The full list of athletes and talents taking part will be announced on November 13 on F1 23’s social media channels.

Daniel Ricciardo has shared his excitement ahead of the race and set the scene in the above video covering his first look at the new US circuit. On November 17, you will also get a sneak peek of how Max Verstappen is preparing for the new circuit as the three-time World Champion takes boxing superstar Anthony Joshua through the streets of Vegas in F1 23.

“Las Vegas is an iconic venue which takes in one of the most famous stretches of tarmac in the world,” said Lee Mather, Senior Creative Director at Codemasters. “I’ve loved watching the team build such a wonderful virtual recreation of the vibrance and energy of the Strip. We have been honoured to bring this new circuit to F1 23 for players everywhere to enjoy ahead of the real-world Grand Prix, and we hope everyone has as much fun as Daniel Ricciardo when they take on Sin City in-game this week”.

Celebrations in F1 23 will start ahead of the weekend for those eager to race the boulevard. From November 14 to 20, the game will feature several in-game events, including a new Las Vegas ‘Pro Challenge’ with Charles Lecler† and an ‘F1 World’ Scenario Event with Lewis Hamilton. EA SPORTS will also offer a host of in-game items, developed in partnership with the Las Vegas Grand Prix, for free‡. To obtain these, players will need to log in daily to the game from November 16 to November 18 and check their inbox.

Additionally, from November 20 to December 11‡, players can experience the thrill of racing Ferrari's recently revealed Golden Era car livery, paying homage to the first "golden era" of Formula 1 in America.

Join us in celebrating the spectacle of Formula 1 in Las Vegas, a full list of all the activities and experiences around Vegas happening on F1 23 can be found here.

**Limited time Free Play Weekend. Free Play Weekend time is subject to change. Free Play Weekend starts on PlayStation and Xbox at 10:00pm UTC on November 15th, 2023 and ends 8:00pm UTC November 20th, 2023. Free Play Weekend starts on Steam at 6:00pm UTC on November 16th, 2023 and ends 6:00pm UTC November 20th, 2023. Internet connection, EA account, acceptance of EA User Agreement (terms.ea.com) and Privacy & Cookie Policy (privacy.ea.com) may be required to play. Access on console platforms may require a premium console account. Additional in-game content may be available for purchase and is available for continued use in the full game; purchased content will not be refunded upon completion of the Free Play Weekend. Free Play Weekend can be played once per EA account.

†Log into F1 World and beat the time of the named driver in the Pro Challenge between November 14th and November 20th 2023. 

‡Requires F123 (sold separately) and all game updates.

Following community feedback, 35% race distance makes its debut, providing the perfect sweet spot between the previous short and long race options. Additionally, red flags add a new strategic element to F1 23, and the ability to react quickly could change the outcome of a race, both for better and worse. Alongside the full 2023 season calendar, which expands to include Las Vegas and Lusail, the game also boasts three legacy circuits, with Paul Ricard (France), Shanghai (China), and Portimão (Portugal) all confirmed for launch.

The introduction of the F1 World hub delivers a fresh experience with content inspired by the real-world calendar. Helping introduce players to the complex world of Formula 1, F1 World brings together multiple game modes, including Time Trial and Grand Prix, offering an exciting new way to play the game. A new progression system allows players to level up by completing challenges to unlock car upgrades, new liveries, race suits, and helmets. A new safety rating system links online and offline play, encouraging drivers to race cleanly. This system also helps pair like-minded drivers more efficiently for improved online racing.

F1 23 is available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC (EA App/Epic Games Store/Steam).