The new installment of the F1 racing simulator series has got a story mode and co-op for a career. Is this enough to forget about the previous part and run to the store for a novelty - we tell in the review.

I do not follow the course of the Formula 1 seasons and, in principle, I am indifferent to the Royal races . However, I was interested in F1 2021: firstly, I have long wanted to try something new in the racing simulator segment , and secondly, Friv2Online Studio attracted my attention with story mode trailers - I became curious what kind of scenario could be built within this setting.

Well, as it turned out, the authors came up with a rather intriguing story about the confrontation between two pilots who are on the same team. One is a promising newcomer, a rising star. The second is an experienced racer whose career is gradually coming to an end. Both do not want to give in, which results in a protracted conflict and harms the whole team. The pilot from the opposing team adds fuel to the fire, which spreads rumors and skillfully pits the heroes against each other. And, of course, the press does not miss the opportunity to stir up a scandal.

The action of the plot unfolds over several stages, events abruptly jump weeks and months ahead, but it is interesting to watch what is happening. The scriptwriters set out to show the behind the scenes of professional racing, to let the audience understand that this is not only races, victories and defeats, but also intrigues, undercover fights and drama.

Throughout the story, F1 2021 provides a different perspective on the conflict, and even gives you a little bit of choice: when you speak to the press after the competition, you can choose different responses in tone, which will react to the news bulletins and other team members. A trifle - but affecting the immersion in the atmosphere.

At the same time, in addition to plot inserts and short periods of rest between races, when you, as heroes of the story, can view e-mail and chat with family and friends on the phone, the game does not detract from the actual racing. And almost every race puts conditions in front of the player: get around certain rivals, crawl to the finish line with a damaged gearbox, win back the position after an unplanned pit stop, and so on.

Often the mission does not start from the beginning of the race, but after several laps, when an event occurs, which becomes a trigger for setting certain conditions. However, there are races in which you have to start from the first lap, and they have become a nightmare for me: it is very difficult not to make a dump at the next turn.

In general, F1 2021 teaches you how to drive as "cleanly" as possible. Contact with an opponent is punishable here: first you will be warned, and in case of repeated violations, you will be punished by adding penalty seconds. Given that the AI ​​is very fond of setting up, you have to stay away from your opponent when overtaking, so as not to accidentally hit his car. This becomes a problem in multiplayer races, where often players spoil the fun for themselves and others with collisions.

Careful driving is also required for the passage of tracks. The F1 series is a simulation, so don't expect to be able to fly into a turn at full speed. Of course, if you wish, you can choose the simplest difficulty, let all kinds of assistants steer and slow down for you, but even so, the game remains quite hardcore - having a game steering wheel or at least a gamepad is highly desirable. At the maximum level of difficulty, it becomes very difficult to cope with the car, which only adds adrenaline to the races.

On PS5 , the game takes advantage of the platform features: cards allow you to quickly switch to single and online modes bypassing the main menu, and the DualSense controller reacts with vibration to the roughness of the track and forces you to press the left trigger with force when braking.

Of course, the gameplay experience applies not only to the story mode, but also to career and multiplayer . In the MyTeam career mode, you'll manage an entire team: customize its appearance, find sponsors, plan finances, develop improvements; in general, do everything to achieve maximum efficiency, and at the same time become one of its riders and be able to participate in races. There is also a pilot career mode, where AI will take care of the team, and all you have to do is win races.

Through a career in co-op , you and your partner will be able to enter into contracts and change teams as you see fit, work together or compete with each other . You can even tie your progress to the real season and advance in races as a participant in a real championship.

In addition, no one bothers to create your own Grand Prix and time trial on any of the tracks. In the sum of activities, there is more than enough here: from a full-fledged story campaign for 8-10 hours and single championships to rating games, leagues and races on a split screen. And to stand out from the competition, the personalization section provides a rather large selection of options for the design of cars, helmets, emotes, poses and other customization elements . They can be obtained as you advance in the local analogue of the season pass, as well as bought for in-game currency - there is monetization, although not required.

In a large number of activities, as well as the still empty section of F1 Esports, one can trace the desire of the authors to make the project long-lasting, with constant updates and active participation of the community. You'll want to keep coming back: participate in the weekly event, try to get to the top of the rankings, open a couple of costumes for your rider, and so on.

I have a strong dislike for circuit races. I don’t know exactly why, but I get bored of winding circle after circle, watching the same scenery. But, as it turned out, circuit racing in F1 2021 is very exciting. Every corner is a challenge, every second gained is an achievement, and overtaking an opponent is a delight. Even dozens of laps completed do not cause boredom: at each stage the race remains intense, and I constantly want to improve my result.

Yes, I had to spend some time in the study of manuals to understand the purpose of many obscure words, but I liked the experience. This is perhaps the main merit of Friv2Online Studio - the developers managed to make Formula 1 races interesting for those who are indifferent to them.