F1 2020 brought a major novelty to the official Codemasters Formula racing simulation series in the form of the My Team mode, which for the first time allowed the player to found and run their own team instead of merely signing on with an existing one. As both owner and driver, the player handled sponsorship deals, car development, hiring a second driver, and team marketing, which significantly expanded the game with a management layer on top of the classic racing core and gave it the feel of a long-term building project.
The racing itself was built on elaborate 2020-season car physics with all the tracks and drivers of the time under the official FIA license, complemented by adjustable assist difficulty such as braking or traction control, so both newcomers and players seeking simulation precision could enjoy the game. Another novelty was playable classic cars from F1 history, offering a nostalgic detour from the modern era of hybrid engines and allowing a comparison of driving feel across decades, from loud naturally aspirated engines to the quiet precision of today's single-seaters. On Xbox One the game ran smoothly, with faithfully simulated engine sounds for individual teams and a race-weekend atmosphere fleshed out by commentary and radio communication with the team, although the generational graphical leap was more apparent on the incoming consoles.
Critics praised the depth of My Team and the good feeling of building your own project from scratch, as well as the consistently high-quality execution of the classic career mode. For the series, it was one of the most notable installments of the past decade, as it showed that a licensed sports simulation can also offer significant management depth without losing racing authenticity. Even today F1 2020 is a solid choice for fans of the Formula sport who will appreciate the combination of authentic driving and building a career from the very beginning.
Why play it: Fans of Formula racing will enjoy the combination of authentic driving and the deep My Team management mode, where they build their own team from the very beginning.
Game 170 of 204 for Xbox One
