Want to become one of the world’s 20 best drivers? EA Sports’ F1 24 is your ticket to motorsport greatness. This latest entry in the long-running F1 game series looks like it’ll be the most realistic yet, with EA fine-tuning the handling of the cars and giving the Career Mode a big refresh.

You can play as yourself and rise through the ranks of F2 to earn a place on the F1 grid, where you'll get to line up alongside triple world champion Max Verstappen and 7-time WDC Lewis Hamilton. Or step into the racing boots of your favourite current pilot and build on their existing stats instead. We know we’re picking Fernando!

Let's find out more about the upcoming game based on this year's championship, featuring an epic 24-race calendar. From the release date and price to the high-octane gameplay.

What is F1 24's release date?

You haven't got long to wait until lights-out at the Bahrain season opener. F1 24 races its way onto PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on 31 May 2024. Just remember to warm up your tyres for a rocket getaway on your grand prix debut.

How much will F1 24 cost?

For £69.99, you'll get to drive multi-million-dollar machinery around some of the world's most iconic racing circuits. Including Spa-Francorchamps, Silverstone, and modern classics like Singapore's Marina Bay street course and the rollercoaster Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Can I pre-order F1 24?

For sure! If you want a perfect start from pole position, pre-order your copy of F1 24 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox right now from Currys. If you enter code RACE15 at checkout, you’ll save 15% too.

F1 24 platforms and crossplay

You'll get to go wheel-to-wheel against the world's most talented drivers on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One gaming consoles. PC gamers can also fire up F1 24 if they're running on Windows.

And just like the previous Formula 1 game, crossplay will be available from the day of launch. So if you're rocking a PlayStation, you can go head-to-head against your mate on Xbox.

How to play F1 24

There's much more to this game than just driving flat-out. If you’re a long-time F1 fan, you’ll know that winning races means being consistent lap-after-lap, aware of who's making moves around you, and managing those tyres like your life depends on it!

F1 24 chucks all those challenges of modern-day Formula 1 at you and much more, especially as reigning champ (and big sim racing enthusiast) Max Verstappen lent a hand testing the game. He’s helped develop the new 'Dynamic Handling' system, which ups the realism so that your driving style makes more of a difference when it comes to setting up your car and planning your strategy.

Not only that, but EA Sports have also improved the tyre wear model so you can warm them up before a hot quali lap and feel the grip fall away over a race — just like a real F1 driver. Are you a smooth operator who can nurse the tyres? You might be able to pull off a one-stopper to overcut your rivals. Or push to the limit over shorter stints to make up some ground.

And don’t forget to stay calm on the throttle when the rain arrives! EA have even made variable conditions feel more authentic, so you can cool your tyres offline and find more grip on the outside of corners. Just like Schumacher, Senna, and more of F1's great “rain masters”.

Want more realism?

For an even more thrilling experience playing F1 24, check out our selection of gaming steering wheels. They give you a more lifelike feel with force feedback and allow for subtler steering inputs than a standard controller, so you have greater control and can go even faster! Set them up with racing gaming chairs and it’ll feel like you’re sitting right in a Formula 1 cockpit.

How many hours of gameplay will F1 24 have?

You'll get plenty of mileage out of F1 24. Last year’s game offered around 60 hours of gameplay (according to HowLongToBeat), but we reckon F1 24 will up the ante with its new features and modes.

And like EA Sports FC 24 and other sports games, F1 24 can almost be endless if you want it to be. Keep going for multiple seasons and become a veteran of the championship. Or with online multiplayer, keep racing against new names from all over the world. It’s the best way to stay sharp!

What are F1 24’s main characters?

The official lineup of your favourite 20 drivers and 10 teams from the 2024 season will be playable in F1 24. From regular frontrunners like Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris, to midfield masters like Nico Hulkenberg and Alex Albon. Or if making a name for yourself is more your thing, you can take the title fight to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with a custom driver.

But if you're a real Formula 1 history buff, you can even bring back heroes from the past to teach the latest generation a thing or two! We're talking title-winning Icons like Jenson Button, Nigel Mansell, Mika Hakkinen, and many more big names stretching all the way back to the 1970s.

What F1 24 features are player-customisable?

One of the best things about F1 24 is the amount of freedom there is when it comes to adjusting your car's setup. Thanks to the new ‘Dynamic Handling’ system, things like spring and damper forces have been refined so you can be super precise and find the perfect balance.

But remember to tweak your setup for each track. You'll want all the downforce for the tight twists and turns of Monaco, but not for the long straights of Monza! You can also change engine settings and how energy is harvested — letting you deploy extra horsepower when setting up that big dive into turn one at Baku, or to get better traction out of a slow street circuit hairpin.

And if you’re tearing up the track with top performances week in, week out — you can gain resource points that’ll help you build the best car on the grid. The better your reputation, the faster those all-important parts and upgrades will flow through from the factory.

What are the different F1 24 game mode options?

F1 24's Career Mode is where most of the action is at. And just like in all the previous EA F1 games, you can create your own custom driver and take them all the way to top.

But if you want to feel like a real up-and-coming talent, you can choose to earn your stripes in the world of Formula 2 first. Winning races in F1's feeder series will attract interest not only from F1's smallest teams, but the more established squads too. Then you can immediately make your mark when stepping up to the pinnacle of motorsport.

For this year, EA Sports have also introduced a new Driver Career Mode so you can play as your favourite current pilot. Turn the likes of Logan Sargeant and Oscar Piastri into grand prix winners, or earn Fernando Alonso that long overdue third title. The choice is all yours!

The Career Mode is also now driven by a 'Driver Recognition' system, which is designed to help you build a reputation and become hot property when the driver market "silly season" heats up. Just make sure you're meeting all the goals and objectives set over the season. Then before you know it, you'll be fighting right at the front when you get snapped up by a top team.

There's also a new Challenge Career Mode, offering unique mini scenarios that'll test your abilities to the max. You can compete for the best scores on the community leaderboards, and even have your say on future challenges by voting in social media polls.

Will F1 24 have a multiplayer mode?

If you want to go through your Formula 1 career with a friendly face on the grid, you can team up with one of your mates in the Two-Player Career Mode. It offers all the new single-player features, so you won't be sacrificing anything by not going at it alone.

You can climb up the rankings as team-mates or competitors, playing as one of F1’s current stars, an Icon, or your own custom driver. And if you’re cunning (like most Formula drivers!), you can use the reworked contract system to draw interest from rival teams and attend secret meetings without your friend knowing.

Or if you want a straight fight against multiple players from across the globe, just head to an online lobby. Find players who compete fairly and form a team or choose a completely open race and prepare for some carnage!

Any more questions?

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