F1 Manager 2024 is the latest in the hit F1 management simulator franchise from Frontier Developments that releases on July 23rd. The newest iteration of the series looks to build on previous years but brings a new addition that dramatically changes the game for players. I had the chance to test out the new Create A Team mode in F1 Manager 2024 and it is exactly what the game has been missing.
Create A Team mode give players a chance to add an 11th team to the Formula 1 grid. Creating a team is simple and intuitive, but that does not mean it is limited. Players can create their own team name, basic structure and history, and how the team will stack up when joining the grid. You can choose to join as a brand new team with few resources or come in as an established racing team with real pedigree.
Get BWT in your inbox!
Get BWT in your inbox!
What impressed me was the amount of creative freedom. Selecting staff and drivers can be limited if you want, providing a real challenge, but there is also the ability to create a true Formula 1 super team. Want to know what it would be like if Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were on the same team? Want the best technical staff the sport has to offer? F1 Manager 2024 lets you do that.
Style is everything in F1, and F1 Manager 2024 does not cut corners here either. There are pre-made car liveries that can be edited to create the custom car design of your dreams. It is not the most in-depth creative system out there, but it does allow for some really neat and unique ideas. There is also the option to choose where sponsor logos appear and how they look as well as what your driver’s suits and helmets look like. This creative system has a lot of potential to be expanded upon as the mode evolves.
The preview only allowed enough time for one race, but seeing 11 teams on the grid added a new layer of challenges. It will be exciting to see how it plays out over the course of a season once the full game releases. The chaos of driver contracts, something that has been modified and allows for poaching now, will be even more exciting with an extra team.
F1 Manager 2024 will also feature more in-depth control of affiliate drivers. This gives players the chance to recruit young F2 and F3 drivers and watch them improve before potentially signing for the main F1 team. The expansion of this system is incredibly intriguing and could be very useful in-game.
Driver mentality is also a huge factor. Like their real-life counterparts, drivers in F1 Manager 2024 are affected by what happens around them. Keeping them happy is vital to their on-track success and whether or not you can keep them on the team.
Mechanical failures also make an appearance in F1 Manager 2024 and I had the chance to test this out in a race setting. Entering a race with worn-out engine components is even riskier now since they can completely fail in the race. The harder you push, the higher the chance the car could fail. The continued evolution of real-life issues in F1 is a welcome sight and serves to make this an even better simulation of the sport.
F1 Manager 2024‘s new Create A Team mode alongside some less noticeable updates could be a game changer for the franchise. Once the full, polished version is released in July, it should take the management simulator franchise to a whole new level.
F1 Manager 2024 releases on July 23rd on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
