Revving Up Creativity and Challenges: First Impressions of F1 Manager 2024

Exploring F1 Manager 2024: First Thoughts on the Upcoming Release

Crash.net was lucky enough to get early access to a demo version of F1 Manager 2024. Here are our preliminary thoughts…

Formula 1 enthusiasts are in for a treat this summer as Frontier Developments is set to launch their new management game, ‘F1 Manager 2024,’ on July 23.

F1 Manager 2024 expands on the achievements of the previous version by incorporating a few interesting new gameplay options.

Recently, Connor McDonagh, an F1 correspondent for Crash.net, had the opportunity to explore a preview version of F1 Manager 2024, delving into two of its most significant updates for the current year.

Build Your Own Squad

Undoubtedly, the highlight of this year's edition is the 'Build Your Own Squad' feature, which allows participants to design their own racing team to compete in the 2024 Formula 1 season.

Differing from Andretti, your squad will emerge as the eleventh contestant in F1, providing an opportunity to compete with renowned teams such as Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes.

Participants will have full control over the team's appearance, including the choice of team name, car design, emblem, racing outfits, and helmets.

The degree of innovation exceeded expectations, especially in terms of the team emblem, which was characterized by an editing system reminiscent of Photoshop.

Regarding the design of the cars, gamers have a lot of leeway in deciding the exact placement of their sponsor logos, as managing sponsors is a crucial aspect of operating an F1 team.

Beyond the standard features associated with forming a new team, participants have the opportunity to select the "origins" of their newly established constructor.

Essentially, it determines the level of challenge you prefer for your adventure. You can land in Bahrain leading a top-tier team ready to challenge Red Bull right away, or choose a more traditional path to success by gradually moving from the last position to the leading one, offering choices suitable for all preferences.

Players have a minimum of six choices at their disposal, which subsequently affects the selection of drivers, engineers, and team staff they can recruit.

At the preview event, we had considerable flexibility in creating our own ensemble.

This presented an ideal opportunity for Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to come together again at CMG Racing, alongside Peter Bonnington and Gianpiero Lambiase serving as their race engineers.

Once the team customization was completed, it was directly off to Bahrain.

Seasoned players of F1 Manager would recognize the remainder of the weekend's events, indicating that there weren't many unexpected moments. Due to limited playing time, assessing the new penalty system or the adaptive team artificial intelligence was challenging, yet all other aspects operated with minimal issues.

The "Create A Team" feature lived up to expectations and is likely to hold players' interest for an extended period.

Technical Malfunctions

The latter segment of the sneak peek was centered on an imaginary 'Race Replay' situation.

During their tenure at the helm of the Red Bull squad during the Australian Grand Prix, participants are evaluated on their skill in handling mechanical breakdowns.

This year's game introduces mechanical breakdowns as a new obstacle, challenging players to carefully manage their equipment both throughout the season and within individual sessions.

In my situation, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez faced problems related to their Energy Recovery Systems.

Verstappen initially surged ahead, but he quickly encountered issues with his battery recharging, leading to a significant drop in position due to the loss of vital electrical energy.

Just like Perez, his problem was more critical, as he completely lost ERS power.

Aggravating as it may be, it presents a fascinating puzzle. What stands out is that the problem and its timing vary from player to player, complicating any attempts to address it should one wish to revisit that situation.

A critique aimed at last year's 'Race Replay' feature, particularly during Fernando Alonso's Monaco stint, was that opting for intermediate tires resulted in the same outcome on every playthrough, essentially nullifying any replay value.

Concluding reflections

In summary, my time spent with F1 Manager 2024 was exceptionally gratifying. The gameplay was remarkably seamless, free from any glitches, which enabled me to fully appreciate the breathtaking graphics and the deeply engaging experience it offered.

The "Build Your Own Team" feature is a significant advantage for gamers, especially given the wide range of creative choices it offers.

The degree of precision and command you possess in races, coupled with the game's visually impressive appearance, contributes to a delightful gaming experience.

Frontier deserves commendation for setting the retail price at a modest £29.99 in an era where the cost of purchasing a video game typically approaches a steep £69.99.

The release of F1 Manager 2024 is set for July 23, and it will be accessible on platforms including PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It is priced at £29.99/$34.99/€34.99 for the standard version, while the Deluxe Edition is being offered at £39.99/$44.99/€44.99.

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