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 shared the first in-depth look at the FORMULA 1 LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX in F1 23, which will make its virtual debut when the game launches.

F1 23 will offer fans, and even F1® drivers themselves, a chance to race the circuit ahead of the real-world Grand Prix™. This will be the first time in Formula 1® history that cars will race on the iconic Las Vegas Strip.

“Our team has designed a wonderful virtual recreation of one of the most exciting and striking cities in the world. The sheer scale and density of the buildings in Las Vegas has been a fun challenge for the team along with the vibrance and energy of The Strip lit up for the Saturday night race. It took over 1900 days of cumulative development time to deliver that level of authenticity”, said Lee Mather, Senior Creative Director at Codemasters.

The studio built the Las Vegas Strip Circuit™ from the ground up using thousands of reference photos and substantial photogrammetry data. The design features three straights, a high-speed cornering sequence and a single chicane section. With average speeds around the track set to be comparable to the original ‘Temple of Speed’ – Italy’s Autodromo Nazionale Monza –, drivers will weave past in this 6.12km circuit at speeds of up to 212 mph. The high-stakes circuit will pose a unique challenge to racers as they hit top speed on the Las Vegas Strip, passing  world-famous landmarks, casinos, and resorts.

To celebrate the iconic track, time-limited Las Vegas-themed items*, including a special livery, helmet, gloves, and hat, will be available for anyone who pre-orders the F1® 23 Champions Edition before May 31. 

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.

The digital-exclusive F1 23 Champions Edition comes with time-limited Las Vegas content*, Max Verstappen Race Wear Pack, Braking Point 2 Icons and Vanity Item Pack, Dual Entitlement**, four new My Team Icons, an XP Boost, F1 World Bumper Pack, 18,000 PitCoin and three days early access starting on June 13. A physical and digital Standard Edition featuring EA Sports ambassador Charles Leclerc alongside Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris will be available from June 16 with F1 World Starter Pack and 5000 PitCoin for those who pre-order.

F1 23 is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC (EA App/Epic Games Store/Steam) on June 16, 2023.