Codemasters has been refining its formula for racing games since it picked up the F1 licence in 2010, but it had never quite mastered it.
Take F1 2015, for example. A superb game that made steps forward in terms of how the cars handled and looked sensational, but it wasn't all roses as the multiplayer was an absolute mess at launch (admittedly fixed, well down the track), there was no career mode to speak of and it was about as deep as a kid's paddling pool.
Rejoice, though, F1 fans, for this is the year that Codemasters has got it together.
F1 2016 is finally the complete package that represents the sport, in the way that Fifa does for football or Madden does for the NFL. This is a game aimed at the hardcore and it nails it.
Every minute detail that F1 fans see at the races has been replicated here.
Safety cars and virtual safety cars feature (finally!), tyre conservation plays a significant role, you can control warm-up laps, the race starts have been made less automatic and more user controlled. Its all the little things that add together to create a superb end result.
Graphically, the game is outstanding. The cars look brilliant and the track detail is top notch, too. Also featuring this year are personalities from the pits, such as Christian Horner from the Red Bull team and Toto Wolff from Mercedes, adding some extra depth to the behind-the-scenes parts of the game.
Career mode makes a return in a big way, with an increased focus on the importance of practice sessions and car setup. In the previous game, running a default setup would get you through all bar only a couple of tracks.
Here it's essential to do the practice sessions for research and development, as well as to get a feel for the circuits themselves. The fleshed out career mode is a welcome return.
Perhaps the most satisfying thing for me this year is the handling of the cars. In previous years, the cars' handling has been almost automatic, whereas this year they are unruly beasts, especially if you find yourself in one of the crappier cars, or on a wet racetrack.
Having to concentrate on just keeping your car on the track and eking out those final tenths of a second to gain positions on the grid is a brilliant experience for a sim racing enthusiast such as myself.
Multiplayer returns this year and thankfully, the nonsensical system of last year has been given the boot in favour of a more traditional lobby system.
It is so much better an experience as a result. You have options to jump in and do quick races, or set up your own championship, depending on how you're feeling at the time.
Mercifully, the other cars are ghosted also, so you don't have to worry about people smashing into you at the first corner (although, of course, they will still try).
This is 1000% better than last year's system where you had to hope and pray you found opposition, and then got stuck into long seasons with them.
I can't praise Codemasters enough for finally realising its vision for what a Formula 1 game can be, and executing on that vision.
Despite the disadvantage of launching three-quarters of the way through the season, this is an essential purchase for fans of Formula 1, and racing simulator enthusiasts alike.
If you're an arcade racing fan, this will not be your cup of tea, as it's brutally unforgiving.
-By Simon Bishop
