Honestly, the vibe around F1 25 PlayStation 5 is just... different this time. We are deep into 2026 now, and looking back at when this game dropped in May 2025, it feels like the moment EA and Codemasters finally stopped trying to please everyone and just focused on the hardware sitting under your TV.
It was a bold move.
They finally ditched the PS4. By cutting the cord on last-gen consoles, the developers could actually use the PS5’s SSD and raw power without being held back by tech from 2013. You can feel it the second you load into the pit lane. The wait times? Basically gone.
The Handling Overhaul Everyone is Talking About
If you played F1 24, you know the handling was... polarizing. Some people loved the "dynamic handling," but others thought the cars felt like they were floating on ice. F1 25 PlayStation 5 leans hard into the EA SPORTS Dynamic Handling System, and it feels way more grounded.
The DualSense controller is the real hero here.
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You’ve got the adaptive triggers giving you actual resistance when the tires start to lock up. It’s not just "rumble" anymore; it’s communication. When you clip a curb at Spa, the haptic feedback doesn't just vibrate—it thuds in a way that tells you exactly how much floor plank you just shaved off. It makes playing on a controller actually viable against wheel users, which is sort of a miracle for a sim-adjacent game.
What is MyTeam 2.0?
They really went and rebranded the whole career experience. It’s now called MyTeam 2.0, and it's much less about just clicking "advance" on menus.
- Engineering vs. Personnel: For the first time, R&D is split. You have to decide if you want a faster car or a more efficient factory.
- The Cost Cap is Real: You can’t just buy your way to the front. Over-hiring staff can actually trigger penalties, which adds a layer of stress that feels very "Christian Horner at 2 AM."
- Face-to-Face Meetings: You actually have to meet drivers to negotiate. And yeah, "leaks" can happen, which might ruin your chance of signing a big name like Lewis Hamilton (who, by the way, is finally in the Ferrari red in this game).
There is also this weird but cool tie-in with the Brad Pitt F1 movie. If you got the Iconic Edition, you get these "Chapter Scenarios" that let you play through bits of the film's plot. It's a bit "Netflix-y," but hey, it's 2026—the sport is basically a TV show now anyway.
Graphics: Is the Pro Worth It?
If you're lucky enough to have a PS5 Pro, the game looks absurd. We’re talking 8K at 60 FPS in "Resolution Mode." Even on the base PS5, the use of LIDAR-scanned tracks is a massive jump.
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In previous years, tracks like Spa or Silverstone felt a bit "smooth." Now? Every bump in the asphalt is actually there. The lighting—specifically the Ray Traced Dynamic Diffuse Global Illumination—makes night races in Bahrain look terrifyingly real. The light bounces off the track surface and onto the car’s sidepods in a way that makes the old games look like cartoons.
The Weird 2026 DLC Twist
Here is the part that caught everyone off guard. Instead of a standalone F1 26 game, EA decided to release a massive 2026 Season DLC for F1 25.
Why? Because they are rebuilding the engine from scratch for 2027.
This means your F1 25 save is actually going to last you two full years. The DLC is supposed to bring in the new engine regs, the Audi and Cadillac teams, and the new cars. It’s a bit of a gamble, but honestly, it’s better than paying $70 for a roster update. It gives the current game more longevity than any F1 title we’ve seen in a decade.
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Things You Should Actually Do Now
If you are just picking this up or looking to improve your lap times on the PS5, don't just jump into a race.
- Adjust your Gamma: A lot of players find the default HDR a bit "washed out." Drop your Gamma to about 80 or 85 in the settings. It brings back the contrast and makes the colors pop, especially during sunset races.
- Turn off 120Hz if you want Ray Tracing: On the base PS5, if you want those pretty reflections during the race, you usually have to stick to 60fps Quality Mode. If you’re a frame-rate snob, go for Performance, but the game loses some of its "next-gen" luster.
- Try the Reverse Tracks: It sounds like a gimmick, but racing Zandvoort in reverse is genuinely terrifying. It’s a great way to break the muscle memory if you’ve been playing these games for years.
- Manage your "Icons": In MyTeam, you can now sign legends like Ayrton Senna or Michael Schumacher to be your teammate. Just be warned: they are expensive and they will absolutely out-qualify you.
F1 25 PlayStation 5 isn't perfect—the Braking Point story mode still feels a bit scripted—but as a pure racing package, it’s the most complete thing Codemasters has done since F1 2020. It feels like a proper simulation of the business of F1, not just the driving.
Get your settings dialed in, lower that Gamma, and maybe try a season as Carlos Sainz at Williams just to see if you can pull off the miracle he’s trying for in real life. The 2026 expansion is coming soon, so there’s plenty of time to get good before the regulations change everything.