6 unique features in older F1 games missing from newer releases

F1 games have been a staple of the broader racing game genre for some time now, and for good reason. Being the world's premier motorsport category, the series has a sprawling and dedicated fanbase. The same has been reflected in the video game form as well.

Over the years, some F1 games have had unique features that were either phased out or simply never appeared again. This article contains six unique features and immersive elements in older games that are missing from the newer releases in the series. Some features mentioned are plainly cosmetic, while others altered certain gameplay elements significantly.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the writer's opinions. The entries in this list are not in any particular order.

---

6 unique features in older F1 games missing from modern entries

1) Manual Pitstops (F1 2006/ F1 Championship Edition)

Manual pitstops required you to press various buttons when prompted to achieve a successful pitstop (Image via Sony Interactive Entertainment)

A launch title for the PS3, F1 Championship Edition had a global release in early 2007 and was the final F1 game developed by Sony. An enhanced version of the F1 06 game for the PS2, the title included content from the 2006 F1 season and had a rather unique feature of manual pitstops.

A combination of the face keys and trigger buttons had to be pressed with optimal timing to complete the pitstop in the shortest amount of time. This included changing the tire, front and rear jack, and other elements of the car. Manual pitstops never re-appeared in a main-line F1 game after this entry.

---

2) Post-race press conference room (F1 2010)

F1 2010 is the only game to feature the post-race press conference room (Image via YouTube@ EA Sports F1)

When an F1 race concludes, the drivers partake in the post-race activities and are then ushered into an interview section. Additionally, the top three racers take part in a podium ceremony and are then guided toward a special room where the media asks them questions.

This feature is present only in F1 2010, where after a podium finish in a career mode race you take part in a short interview in the media room where you answer some questions. While other games have sporadically featured media activities, no other title since has featured the post-race podium room.

---

3) Classic F1 cars (Multiple games)

A still from F1 2019 showcasing the variety of classic cars on display (Image via Codemasters/ EA Sports F1)

The history of F1 is very rich and vast, and fans often reminisce about seasons gone by. Though F1's current V6 engines are among the most efficient pieces of machinery on the planet, there's nothing like hearing the snap, crackle, and roar of the various V8, V10, and V12 engines. Moreover, they provide fans with a new and modern way to experience these iconic cars in a modern game.

Classic cars on offer include Jean Alesi's race-winning Ferrari 412 T2, Michael Schumacher's debut car in the Jordan 191, the exceptionally fast Williams FW25, and many more. There have been a number of classic cars that have featured in F1 games over the years. However, the last title to feature these historical gems was the 2020 release.

---

4) Unique scenery locations (F1 2016, F1 2017)

F1 2016 and F1 2017 provided unique backdrops for the circuits being visited. (Image via Codemasters/ EA Sports F1)

In the current F1 games, you rarely see beyond the motorhome's interior and a computer screen with your teammate sitting opposite you when you are off the track. However, the 2016 and 2017 games placed you around various parts of your team's motorhome and dynamically updated the background based on the venue you visited.

Australia had some lush greenery and buildings in the background and Russia featured the nearby rollercoaster and pit building as seen in the image above. This added a level of immersion to the game; however, subsequent games have all but removed this feature.

---

5) R&D truck & engineer (F1 2017)

The R&D truck and engineer did not make many appearances (Image via Codemasters/ EA Sports F1)

Another immersive feature rarely shown in F1 2017 was the research and development area of your team's motorhome, which houses the technical personnel and equipment of your team. While it acted as nothing more than a background, it added to the game's realism aspect.

You as the driver were also greeted personally across race weekends by a senior engineer from the team. He would inform you about upgrades succeeding or failing, and notify you when things were running behind schedule. In more recent F1 games, this has been replaced by a simple message on the screen.

---

6) Driver agent (Multiple Games)

A still of the driver agent as seen in F1 2017 (Image via Codemasters/ EA Sports F1)

First introduced in F1 2016, the career mode featured a driver agent who would talk to you on multiple occasions throughout a season. She would inform you of your status and position within the team and notify you when it was under threat. She also presented an alternative contract should your present team decide to relieve you.

There were also voicemails that notified you of your expected targets. The agent would also help you negotiate terms of prospective contracts to net you better bonuses. While the mechanic still exists, its stature has been reduced to computer messages instead of motorhome visits.

---

Read more F1 game articles below:

• Every Codemasters F1 game, ranked
• 7 best F1 games of all time