Codemasters and EA Sports have released patch 1.06 for their latest Formula 1 simulation title, F1 25. The update is now live across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S platforms. While not a monumental overhaul, this patch delivers targeted improvements aimed at refining the core racing experience, with significant attention given to previously problematic areas like wet weather performance and subtle car physics interactions.
Perhaps the most impactful change for many players addresses the often-frustrating experience of racing in the rain, specifically concerning automatic gearboxes. The update makes key adjustments to how the automatic transmission behaves in wet conditions. This change specifically tackles the issue of “short shifting” in higher gears, a tendency that could significantly hinder a player`s ability to maintain pace and effectively compete against the AI when the track is soaked. This refinement should make automatic gearbox users far more competitive and allow them to focus more on navigating the treacherous conditions rather than battling their own car`s gear selection logic.
Beyond the downpour, update 1.06 also brings a welcome adjustment to the car`s physical model concerning its interaction with the track surface. Developers have fine-tuned the front ride height and floor friction levels. An investigation prompted by player observations revealed that player cars could, under certain circumstances, suffer from excessive friction against the track surface due to underbody scraping. This unintended consequence could negatively impact top speed, creating a performance discrepancy compared to AI vehicles. The patch aims to mitigate this effect, ensuring that underbody contact is penalized realistically but doesn`t unfairly impede a player`s straight-line speed potential relative to the competition.
The update also includes a suite of bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements across various aspects of the game:
- Several issues within the career modes have been resolved, addressing scenarios where teams might end up with an incorrect number of drivers or where a player might unexpectedly find themselves without a contract offer at the end of a season.
- Visual polish has been applied, fixing minor graphical glitches at various circuits and correcting specific car model issues, such as Fernando Alonso`s car appearing incorrectly after damage. Trackside elements like sponsor boards have also been updated at multiple locations.
- Improvements to the in-game communication system include fixes to Engineer voice lines and advice, ensuring they are more accurate regarding tire wear recommendations, race context, and responding to voice commands.
- Platform-specific and general technical enhancements have been implemented, including updates to PC-specific technologies like OpenVR and AMD FSR, fixes for HDR monitor compatibility issues, improvements to UI elements, and overall stability enhancements.
In essence, patch 1.06 represents a crucial step in refining the F1 25 simulation. By specifically targeting player-reported issues like wet weather automatic gearbox behavior and subtle car physics discrepancies, the developers are working to provide a more consistent, fair, and ultimately more enjoyable racing experience. While the wait continues for potential driver rating adjustments (perhaps the focus of future updates?), this patch focuses on solidifying the core gameplay mechanics.
Dominic Ashworth