Formation Lap, Manual Starts, and 22-Player Lobbies Featured in F1 2016

With the release of this year’s F1 game drawing near, Codemasters has taken the opportunity to drop a few new bits of information on the upcoming title. Beginning with the new trailer seen above, showing off the new hospitality areas, time-of-day editor, and action from the paddock.

F1 2016 will be the first game since now-defunct SCE Studio Liverpool’s Formula One Championship Edition in 2006 to feature a Formation Lap. This pre-race lap will allow players to weave around the track getting heat into the tires, all in preparation for getting off the line at the start of the race.

Interestingly enough the introduction of the Formation Lap leads into another new feature: Manual race starts. Unlike race starts in the previous titles, you’ll now be required to engage the clutch and keep the engine RPM balanced while waiting for the lights to go out. Reaction times will be of key importance here as letting go too early will risk jumping the start, and letting go too late will see you folding back as the anti-stall engages.

Additionally, you’ll have complete control over the car when entering the pit lane and when braking, meaning not only will you need to brake in time to avoid a penalty but you’ll be able to take full advantage of the situation without being bogged down, furthering the immersion factor of the game.

Multiplayer races will support up to 22 players, providing a full grid experience across all 21 racing venues of the 2016 season of the sport. Principal Games Designer Lee Mather shared the following regarding how the game is currently coming together:

“We strive to create a game that is as close to the actual sport as possible. We have listened to the feedback from our community and that has resulted in us introducing the Safety Car, Virtual Safety Car, Formation Lap, manual race starts and the host of other gameplay features that get us even closer to the real sport and add to the experience for the player.

“Increasing the multiplayer support to 22 players was extremely important to us,” added Lee. “We want to be able to fill the whole grid with human players to create those great race moments and stories. It also provides greater support for online leagues.”

As seen in some of the previous media, pit wall boards will also be included in the game and will deliver the same vital information to you that the real drivers rely upon. There will also be a realistic penalty system and car damage sensitivity, and wheel tethers will be introduced to the franchise as well.

It doesn’t end there as the team is also announcing brand new ‘pro’ surfaces, with remodeled kerbs, and surfacing that further add to the game’s realism. All of this will seamlessly come together with the previously announced expansive single player career mode, which has grown to ten seasons and includes the action of both on and off track activities.

If you’re interested in the original reveal you can head over to the Codies Blog to see it for yourself, and remember to swing by our F1 games forum for more in-depth discussion.

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