The balancing act between skill and race strategy feels right for the first time in the series. That's the core of what makes F1 2016 such an enjoyable experience. Release too early, and you’ll be punished with a drive-through penalty. Release too late, and expect to see a lot of cars overtake you before the first corner. These reward fast reflexes, as you're challenged to keep the engine at the optimal RPM by holding down the throttle, only releasing the clutch as the lights go out. Adding to this tension is the option of manual starts. Formation laps have been added, allowing you to warm up your tires and brakes before the actual race starts, which delivers a palpable sense of anticipation to the start of each race. The importance of communicating with your engineer is emphasized more than ever, allowing for strategy changes if you push too hard and wear out your tires too early in the race. Not only does the grip feel more realistic, but the supporting mechanisms around it have also been improved to empower you as a driver. Grip is nothing new to the series, of course, but the way in which tires evolve across miles of straights and braking zones feels more authentic than ever. Now, cold tires have even less grip at the start of the race, and worn wheels force you to be careful while accelerating out of corners. Racing in F1 2016 is thrilling and tense, which is largely due to an improved physics model that defines the relationship between your car and the track. With demanding car controls and increased authenticity that feeds into the excitement of high-speed races, F1 2016 is the best the series has ever seen.

This is a game that expertly captures the thrill of racing and the satisfaction of executing a winning strategy. It's not until the rubber hits the road that we can truly see how much better a driving experience F1 2016 truly delivers. Adjustments that may seem menial from afar can have a significant impact in practice. Codemasters' Formula One racing series has evolved in small ways over the years, but like real-world F1 cars, the devil is in the details.

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