F1 25 Hands-On Preview Part Three: Braking Point 3 Delivers Enhanced Drive To Survive-Style Drama Up Front

The Braking Point mode in the F1 series has always offered a unique twist, becoming more polished as the real-life drama of the sport has become more significant. If you’re looking to dive deep into the simulation aspect of the game or spend most of your time on the track, Braking Point might not be your first choice. However, it undeniably has its own niche and audience that appreciate its storytelling aspects.

There’s no denying that drama has always been a captivating element, and nowadays, it plays an even bigger role in how we experience racing. Whether you love it or not, if you’re into a bit of drama to liven up your Sundays, the third chapter of Braking Point in F1 25 is shaping up to deliver.

In the past, as creative director Gavin Cooper shared, introducing the Braking Point characters in 2021 and then the fictional Konnersport team in 2023 was all about creating authenticity. It wouldn’t have been believable if these characters instantly became championship contenders.

With Braking Point 3, things have changed. Armed with a significant financial boost over the winter and starting strong in the test season, Konnersport is now competing with the real-world F1 leaders. Cooper hinted at a pivotal event early in the story causing chaos for the team, and the familiar intrigue of the Butler family will continue to play a crucial role.

After Braking Point 2, Aiden Jackson and Callie Mayer return as the team’s driver duo, and you’ll have the choice of racing as either for key events and races in the storyline. Codemasters has focused on giving players more influence this time with varying on-track objectives and narrative twists depending on your choice. An alternate ending is also in store based on which driver you favor more often, making it tempting to explore both paths.

During my time with the game, I opted for Mayer in the initial events. One was a testing session in Bahrain, a straightforward ‘complete a few laps’ to get accustomed to the car and achieve a targeted lap time. The real excitement kicked in during the first proper race at Imola, where you find yourself amidst the action after a turn one collision with a certain Dutch Red Bull driver, correctly portrayed by Codemasters.

Starting around seventh, the objective was to reclaim a podium finish and overtake Verstappen by a specific lap. It was my first stint with the game, so I chose a minimalistic setup with driver aids I could manage and a pretty steep difficulty level. Unfortunately, with the race already advanced, climbing up the ranks was a tough task. Nevertheless, adjusting the difficulty made it achievable and highlighted how the challenging AI level is best suited for players using various aids or those at the top of their game.

This year, Codemasters has rebalanced the difficulty settings, introducing a fourth level to match players with their perfect skill level more closely. Still, during my brief play, there seemed to be a gap, missing that sweet spot between too hard and too easy. Of course, finding that equilibrium often requires tweaking from players themselves, given how everyone’s pace can differ from track to track and condition to condition.

Returning to the off-track drama, that fresh investment comes from the series-wide rich character Davidoff Butler—the father of Callie Mayer and Devon Butler, the latter now turns into a team advisor after being retired from racing in BP2. Also in the mix are Jackson and team boss Casper Akkerman, with complex family dynamics poised to stir the drama further.

Although the intricacies of Braking Point’s plot haven’t fully gripped me yet, I am curious to see how this edition develops Mayer’s story as a trailblazing first female F2 champion stepping into the big leagues. It’s worth noting that real-world F1 hasn’t seen a female driver participate in a full race weekend since Giovanna Amati in 1992, although women like Jamie Chadwick, Jessica Hawkins, and Tatiana Calderón have contributed through testing and development. You can’t forget the all-female F1 Academy series, too, an exciting feature of the F1 support series package for a few years now.

Codemasters has incorporated Nvidia Audio2Face technology for facial animations, aiming for a more detailed and lifelike feel in press conferences and interviews, allowing you to actually see your racer deliver your chosen response. Once you’ve completed the story, you can transition your Konnersport team into the revamped MyTeam 2.0 mode, extending your experience beyond Braking Point’s single season—should you wish to continue in that managerial style.

Ultimately, whether you’ll be intrigued enough to carry on after finishing Braking Point 3, or if the Drive To Survive-esque drama has fulfilled your appetite, is something only time will tell.