The F1 series’ Braking Point modes are becoming increasingly polished, mirroring the sport’s rising off-track drama. If you’re seeking full immersion into authentic race simulations, Braking Point might not be your top pick. However, it caters well to an audience keen on narrative depth intertwined with racing.
There’s no denying that drama has always attracted viewers to F1, and today, it seems to play an even bigger role in how fans engage with the spectacle of high-speed racing. This shift towards storytelling makes the latest installment, Braking Point 3 in F1 25, quite enticing for those looking for a theatrical touch to their racing experience.
Gavin Cooper, the creative director, shed light on the evolution of Braking Point during the mode’s presentation. He mentioned how, since its inception in 2021 and the inclusion of the Konnersport team in 2023, authenticity has been a key focus. Initially, it didn’t seem plausible for these characters to jump in and immediately start clinching championships.
But that’s about to change with Braking Point 3. Thanks to a significant investment and a great start during winter testing, Konnersport is ready to challenge the real-world F1 leaders. According to Cooper, a crucial storyline twist will shake the team up, continuing the saga of the Butler family, a narrative thread familiar to longtime players.
In this edition, Aiden Jackson partners with Callie Mayer as drivers, allowing players to choose between them for various key events. Codemasters has emphasized player choice this time, introducing new on-track objectives and narrative pathways that vary based on your character selection. Additionally, depending on your racing preferences between Jackson and Mayer, you can unlock different story endings, encouraging multiple playthroughs to experience all angles.
In my preview, I opted to drive as Mayer. One of the events was a routine testing in Bahrain, perfect for acquainting yourself with the car. The real thrill kicked in during the opening race at Imola, where you find yourself pulled straight into mid-race chaos after an unfortunate bump with a particular Dutch Red Bull driver. Starting from roughly seventh place, my goal was to reclaim a podium spot and outpace Verstappen before a specific lap to gather extra points.
Faced with the challenge of rejoining the leading pack late into the race, I initially struggled. Adjusting the settings to an easier difficulty level, I found it more manageable, revealing a significant tuning of high-level AI to cater to top-tier players or those relying heavily on driving aids. Codemasters claims they’ve adjusted difficulty options this year, adding a fourth level aimed at better suiting individual playing styles. However, during my quick test, I found the gap between challenging and easy a bit too pronounced—a typical struggle developers face given the diverse paces of players across various tracks and conditions.
Switching gears to the narrative, the new financial backing for Konnersport comes from Davidoff Butler, a longstanding character linked to Callie Mayer and Devon Butler. Devon, who retired in BP2, now serves as an advisor on the team. Jackson and team principal Casper Akkerman also return, with the family’s dynamics promising even more narrative depth.
While I’ve never been fully invested in Braking Point’s evolving storyline, Mayer’s journey intrigues me. As a fictional trailblazer, she steps into the spotlight as the first female F2 champion to compete for a full season in the elite tier. In reality, F1 hasn’t seen a female participant in a full weekend since Giovanna Amati in 1992, notwithstanding recent developmental roles held by drivers like Jamie Chadwick, Jessica Hawkins, and Tatiana Calderón. Let’s not forget the F1 Academy series, consistently promoting female drivers for several years.
To breathe life into their characters, Codemasters has tapped into Nvidia’s Audio2Face technology, lending authenticity to press conferences and interviews by making your chosen driver visibly express your selected responses. Once players navigate through the storyline, they can transition their Konnersport team into the MyTeam 2.0 mode, extending their gameplay beyond Braking Point’s narrative framework.
Whether you’ll enjoy continuing with Braking Point 3’s plot or find yourself sated with its drama akin to “Drive To Survive” remains an open question.
