I booted up F1 25 expecting the usual roster tweak and a quick patch. Instead the launcher offered a Season Pack that rewrites the grid and rules overnight. That small decision felt like the moment EA Sports tried to change the cadence of the series.
I’ve spent enough hours in Career Mode and testing laps to spot what matters fast, and I’ll tell you where this pack pays off, where it pinches, and whether your money buys more than roster updates.
I watched the team sheets roll in at testing — All key features of the F1 25: 2026 Season Pack
The Season Pack is a surgical update rather than a full sequel. It replaces the default database with 2026 data: new teams, updated driver ratings, fresh regulations and at least one new circuit.
- Complete data overhaul: The default database flips to the 2026 Formula 1 season. That means official rosters now list Sauber and Cadillac, and driver ratings reflect the latest shifts you saw on TV.
- New drivers and ratings: Rookies such as Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad appear with adjusted overall scores. Team dynamics mirror the real-world shuffle — useful if you run Career Mode with realism turned up.
- New track: MADRING joins the calendar: 22 corners, roughly 5.4 km per lap. I drove a few laps and it delivers tight braking moments and one long, satisfying straight that rewards battery deployment.
Regulation changes are baked in too: smaller, lighter chassis affect corner entry and mid-corner stability, while the dual-drive battery modes let you pick moments to sprint on the straights. If you’ve been waiting for a handling tweak that feels meaningful, this one actually moves the needle — like swapping the engine in a familiar car.
What does the Season Pack include?
Short answer: roster and rules updates, the MADRING circuit, adjusted driver ratings, and the 2026 rule set applied across Career Mode and quick races. EA Sports integrated those changes across menus and online lobbies so the new lineups show up everywhere you expect them.
I watched the Steam store listing sit beside full-price entries — Is the F1 25: 2026 Season Pack worth getting
If you don’t yet own F1 25, EA is selling the bundle on Steam for $50 (€46), which nets you the base game with the 2026 Season Pack applied. If you already own the base game, the pack is a discounted $24.99 (€23).
That pricing matters because the annual releases have historically offered mostly roster and regulation tweaks. Now you can pay half the price to get essentially the same updates. It’s a smart consumer shift for anyone who buys games on Steam or follows EA Sports’ seasonal model.
Is the Season Pack worth buying?
For most players the answer is yes. If you crave a current roster and accurate rules for Career Mode, the pack is high value at $24.99 (€23) for existing owners. New players get both the base game and the update for what last year’s title cost on day one.
For people who buy yearly on console or PC, this is a better bargain than grabbing a full-priced sequel that would likely contain the same roster tweaks. It also gives Codemasters more breathing room between numbered releases like F1 26 and the expected F1 27, which should let them concentrate on larger mechanical changes over a longer timescale.
Will my saves transfer to the 2026 pack?
Here’s the sting: custom team saves and Career Mode progress from 2025 aren’t compatible after you update. I lost a custom livery and a mid-season championship run when I flipped the database. It’s annoying, but not fatal — starting a new season can feel like a fresh pair of tires for a seasoned racer.
If you treasure long-running saves, back them up before applying the pack. That said, the update respects online ladders and leaderboards so multiplayer integrity remains intact on Steam and console systems.
I noticed the community chatter on Reddit and Discord — Final verdict and who should buy it
Hardcore sim racers will appreciate the accuracy of the driver ratings and the MADRING layout. Casual players who already play F1 25 for quick sessions may not feel compelled to pay unless they care about up-to-the-minute lineups.
EA Sports’ move to sell a mid-cycle pack through Steam follows a larger trend in sports titles toward modular updates rather than full-priced annual entries. If you value current rosters, realistic regulations, and a new circuit, the Season Pack is a clear buy at $24.99 (€23) for owners or $50 (€46) for new players — but if you’re married to an old save, prepare to start again.
I want to know which matters more to you: a perfectly current grid or the continuity of a long, customised career?