Fans of both F1 and kart racing games will likely find plenty to like about Codemasters’ latest game. But you don’t have to care about F1 as a sport to enjoy this colorful reimagining of the Formula 1 world. Use power-ups to give yourself an edge over rivals! Currently there are 14 power-ups available.
Lewis Hamilton
After a meteoric rise from his early days in junior motorsport, Lewis Hamilton burst onto the scene at McLaren and instantly captured the attention of Formula 1 fans. His debut season was nothing short of remarkable – from the wet-weather masterclass in Monaco to his thrilling wheel-to-wheel battles with Fernando Alonso at Silverstone. It was a season that earned him the first of seven world championship titles, matching the record set by Michael Schumacher. Since then, he has gone on to break and equal more records, including becoming the first driver in history to win a total of 100 grand prix races.
Respect is hard-earned in F1, but Sir Lewis Hamilton – the only British driver to hold the distinction – has it in abundance from his peers. He’s a leader both on and off the track, leveraging his popularity to champion causes including mental health and racial equality. He also carries himself with great style off the grid, owning a lavish penthouse in New York City.
Sebastian Vettel
When Seb Vettel was growing up in Germany, his idol was Michael Schumacher. When the youngster won his first kart trophy, Schumacher encouraged him to follow his dreams and reach for the stars in F1. The German talent spotters at Red Bull noticed his potential and brought him into their youth program for 2006. In 2007 he scored a point on his F1 debut, driving Toro Rosso to a respectable finish in the final races of the season. He secured a move to the senior team for 2008, replacing teammate Mark Webber. Despite an indifferent start, the year ended well as the technical regulations changed the pecking order in favor of Red Bull and Vettel.
He went on to dominate for four consecutive seasons, including a one-sided 2011 championship that made him the youngest triple champion in history. Since then, he has been a dominant force behind the wheel. But he hasn’t been able to repeat that success with Aston Martin, and Charles Leclerc has stolen his mantle.
Daniel Ricciardo
Ricciardo is laidback with a big smile but behind the fuzzy exterior is a razor-sharp racer who is capable of winning races given the right machinery. The self-styled ‘Honey Badger’ mixes all-out speed with impressive race craft and is never afraid to take risks on track. His first season with Red Bull was an unqualified success. After making a good start to the year with second in front of his home crowd in Melbourne he was disqualified for a fuel flow infringement but then won in Canada when he took advantage of Mercedes’ issues.
The Australian’s best season was 2017 which included two wins and a total of eight podium finishes. But his last season with the team was difficult as he failed to match the results of his new team-mate Daniil Kvyat at McLaren. Despite that he was still an important part of the team and a valuable asset, as he was at every stage of his time with them.
Fernando Alonso
Alonso, who has two world titles to his name, bucked the trend of ill-advised comebacks that have tarnished the reputations of other former champions. He took time to get up to speed with his new team in 2021 – but once he did, he produced a series of fine races that showcased his racecraft and feisty style. He capitalised on a better package from Ferrari in 2022, and came within a whisker of snatching a title fight away from McLaren and Red Bull. The highlight was the Indianapolis 500, where he led 27 laps before an engine failure robbed him of his maiden win at the iconic venue.
Despite struggling with reliability in 2023, Alonso still provided the thrills and spills that have made him one of the most popular figures in F1. And he looks to be on track for another comeback next season with Aston Martin, where his formidable skill set will surely put him back on the top step.
Conclusion
As F1 races into the US, celebrity star power is helping its cause. LL Cool J introduced the drivers at the Circuit of the Americas like prize fighters before a big fight. Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have invested in the Renault-owned Alpine Formula 1 team. They join other investors who want to help F1 make a bigger impact in the US.
