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

Braking Point modes in the F1 series have always been a fascinating element to explore, evolving over time as the real-world sport itself grows more like a television drama. While this mode might not suit those who want to immerse themselves wholly in the game’s simulation aspects or prefer spending their time on the tracks, it definitely has its niche audience who enjoy the narrative depth it brings.

Let’s be real, the drama has always been a significant draw. Nowadays, it plays an even more critical role in how we engage with the spectacle of seeing cars zooming around circuits. Love it or hate it, if you’re in the mood for a bit of a plot twist to jazz up your Sundays, the third edition of Braking Point in F1 25 seems quite enticing.

Initially, when characters were introduced to Braking Point back in ’21 and the Konnersport team came into play around ’23, authenticity was a priority, as explained by creative director Gavin Cooper. He emphasized they couldn’t just have these characters jump in and dominate from day one.

In Braking Point 3, that scenario shifts. Thanks to a boost in investments and a strong test season, Konnersport is ready to challenge the top dogs of F1. Cooper hinted at a “major event early in the story that throws the team into turmoil,” and from my brief hands-on experience, the ongoing saga with the Butler family seems to remain a crucial component.

Following the plot of Braking Point 2, Aiden Jackson and Callie Mayer are the stars, and players will choose who to embody for pivotal races and events. Codemasters aims to enhance player engagement this time by offering different objectives and narrative paths based on character selection. Depending on who you choose, you’ll get an alternate ending—something that makes exploring both characters worthwhile if those endings offer enough variation.

I went with Mayer for the two initial scenarios I tried, starting with a test in Bahrain where I had to get familiar with the car and hit certain lap times. The real thrill came with the first race at Imola, where you join the action midway after a collision with a certain Dutch Red Bull driver—quite a nod to real-world authenticity from Codemasters.

Sitting in around seventh place, my task was fighting back to the podium and overtaking Verstappen by a specific lap. This being my introduction to the game, I wanted the genuine car feel, opting for minimal driver aids and high difficulty. Unsurprisingly, recovering from a lagging position was a tough ask. Lowering the difficulty made things manageable, teaching me how the high-level AI is tuned for players with either extensive aids or those at the top of their game skills-wise.

Codemasters has allegedly adjusted difficulty settings this year, adding a new fourth level to the existing three, hoping to help players find their sweet spot more easily. Yet, in my short time with the game, the gap between challenging and too simple still felt a bit off, which is understandable given how varied individual player performance can be depending on the track and conditions.

Returning to the off-track drama, Konnersport’s new funding, intriguingly enough, comes from Davidoff Butler, the wealthy patriarch and father to both Callie Mayer and Devon Butler. Devon has transitioned to a team advisor role after his racing days ended in BP2. Aiden Jackson is still around, and team boss Casper Akkerman too, but it seems like the interactions between Davidoff and his children will drive much of the upcoming narrative.

Though I haven’t been deeply invested in the Braking Point storyline until now, I am curious to see how this latest iteration develops Mayer’s journey as a fictional first female F2 champion embarking on a full season in F1. It’s worth noting the historical context, as real F1 hasn’t seen a female driver race a full weekend since Giovanna Amati in 1992, although others like Jamie Chadwick, Jessica Hawkins, and Tatiana Calderón have been involved in testing and development. Let’s not forget the all-female F1 Academy series, enriching the F1 support series for a couple of years now.

To enhance the story, Codemasters has harnessed Nvidia’s Audio2Face technology for more lifelike facial animations, enriching the experience of press conferences and interviews by letting you see your driver’s chosen responses. Moreover, you can carry your Konnersport team into MyTeam 2.0 mode post-story, extending play beyond the single Braking Point season in typical management style.

Whether you’ll be captivated enough to do that or if the Drive To Survive-esque drama will suffice remains an open question. But for those who thrive on both the thrill of the race and a story with twists, Braking Point 3 certainly promises an intriguing blend.