This cover was made using Canva and Bitmoji. All the screenshots in this post were taken directly from the game by me.
Considering that Formula 1 will be on hiatus until the end of August, I thought this would be the perfect time to dedicate some time to F125, and, why not, start a new career mode.
Although there are many detractors of this series of games developed by Electronic Arts and Codemasters (and many of those criticisms are well-justified, considering that the game has barely changed in the last 3-4 years), as a motorsports fan, it's undeniable that it's one of the most solid experiences in the sport, at least when operating on a relatively "low" budget. And while having a next-generation console and a steering wheel isn't exactly cheap, the gap between F1 games and professional simulators (both software and hardware) is incredibly large, and well, it's always appreciated that these types of options exist. A little more arcade-like than we'd like, but perfect for immersing yourself for a couple of hours in the pinnacle of motorsports.
And while I don't have much to say about F125 (at least not compared to its predecessor, which I also reviewed a couple of months ago), if there's one game mode that makes it all worthwhile, it's the career mode. It allows us to create our own driver (or team) to gradually build our professional career, or, failing that, choose one of the real drivers to take wherever we want.
This time, I thought it would be interesting to start my career in Formula 2, an option that has been available in this series for years and which, in my opinion, makes everything more immersive. This way, I can familiarize myself with the game's new controls and physics, considering that F2 cars are a bit more rudimentary and "easy" to handle than F1 cars.
The career mode lets us customize everything we can imagine: our driver's physical appearance, their helmet, and the name and number that will identify them on the grid. Likewise, we can choose the academy we'll be part of, as well as the team with which we decide to begin our professional journey.
Personally, considering my affinity with the Ferrari team, I decided that starting my career at Prema Racing was the right choice, partnering with Kimi Antonelli (the team's driver until 2024, and George Russell's current teammate at Mercedes in F1).
As I just mentioned, I like that the differences between handling an F1 and F2 car are quite evident in the gameplay, regardless of whether we're playing with a controller or a steering wheel.
However, I'm fortunate to be playing with the Logitech G29, a budget option compatible with all F1 games for PS5 and PS4 that features good force feedback and brake and accelerator pedals that are quite pleasant, in my opinion.
Although I didn't get to play much this time (I only completed the first qualifying session of the first circuit and the race: Sakhir), I want to take it easy to enjoy all the gameplay options this mode offers, learn to control the cars well without assistance, and immerse myself in the more technical aspects of the experience.
Sakhir is a very enjoyable circuit, and I was able to win the race after finishing 4th in the qualifying session, but I'm more eager for the Jeddah circuit, a bit more complex and narrow, but still fun.
The career mode is quite comprehensive, and I like the idea of improving our drivers' stats and being directly involved in all the contracts and decisions made behind the track. I'll keep you updated on how everything is progressing.
Twitter/Instagram/Letterbox: Alxxssss
