F1 2013

F1 2013 was made at a time when Codemasters was still actively playing with the legacy of the racing series. In addition to the modern season, the game has a separate section with the classics: cars from the eighties, old tracks like Imola, Brands Hatch, Estoril and Jerez, as well as turns that have disappeared from the calendar, which old-timers will recognize at first sight. These cars require a fundamentally different style: they do not have the usual downforce and electronics, so you need to brake noticeably earlier and work the gas pedal delicately. When you change from a modern car to an old one, you understand how far technology has come, and this is perhaps the best thing that retro mode can give. Otherwise, the game remains a strong simulator of that time: a career with transitions between teams, youth tests, weather conditions that change right during the race, and online championships. The presentation, interviews and working with the team add to the feeling of being a professional driver rather than just a driver on the track. Racing with old vehicles does not forgive mistakes in turns: you need to control the steering wheel, monitor wear and tear and not lock the wheels when braking. Old tracks, built without modern safety zones, force you to respect boundaries: hitting a wall or hitting a fence means losing seconds or getting off altogether. A separate tradition of the series is racing for two on one screen, where everything is decided by reaction, not settings. Hardcore fans of the series consider the F1 2013 to be one of the most interesting parts due to the sensitivity of the machine. For those who like to argue with the car rather than drive it on autopilot, there is something to do here.