Codemasters and EA Sports have rolled out Update 1.06 for F1 25, now available across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. While the patch addresses a range of issues, the headline improvement targets one of the most challenging aspects of virtual racing: navigating adverse weather conditions.
A significant adjustment focuses on the automatic gearbox behavior during wet races. Previously, players might have noticed undesirable short shifting in higher gears, potentially hindering performance and making it difficult to match the pace of AI competitors in the rain. The 1.06 update specifically modifies this aspect, aiming to provide players with more competitive automatic gear selection in challenging wet conditions. This sounds like a direct response to players struggling to keep pace when the heavens open, which, let`s be honest, happens just when you least need it in a tight race.
Beyond the rain, the update also tackles an issue related to vehicle physics and track interaction. Adjustments have been made to the front ride height and floor friction levels. An investigation prompted by player feedback revealed that player-controlled cars experienced disproportionately higher friction against the track surface due to underbody scraping compared to AI cars. This disparity could unfairly impact top speed, essentially penalizing players for, well, driving their cars. Patch 1.06 aims to level the playing field by reducing this effect, ensuring that aerodynamic and setup choices, rather than unintended under-car grinding, primarily dictate top speed.
While not a direct feature of this patch, the F1 25 team has also been hinting at future content updates, particularly regarding driver ratings. Following his remarkable third-place finish at Silverstone – a podium that ended both his own lengthy streak of 239 starts without one *and* Sauber`s drought dating back to 2012 – Nico Hülkenberg has been teased as a potential candidate for a rating boost. It seems even virtual performance statistics must eventually bow to the cold, hard reality of a well-deserved champagne spray after a very, very long wait. This kind of dynamic rating adjustment, even if only teased, adds a layer of realism players appreciate.
In addition to these core gameplay tweaks, Update 1.06 brings a substantial list of fixes addressing various aspects of the game. This includes numerous improvements to career modes (My Team and Driver Career) preventing potential issues like incorrect driver signings or contract offers, graphical fixes at specific tracks (Bahrain, Miami, general), audio adjustments (Engineer VO), accessibility options, PC-specific optimizations (OpenVR, FSR update, HDR fixes, removal of unsupported settings), UI refinements, and general stability enhancements.
Full F1 25 Update 1.06 Patch Notes:
- Made minor adjustments to front ride height and floor friction levels to reduce the effect that underbody scraping has on a player’s top speed.
- Made adjustments to the automatic gearbox in wet conditions. This will reduce short shifting in higher gears and enable the player to compete more effectively with the AI.
- Updated the OpenVR SDK (PC Only).
- Fixed an issue at Bahrain which would cause cars to briefly drop down as they drive out of the garage.
- Added a fix to prevent an issue in new Driver Career saves where, under certain circumstances, a team could hire three drivers.
- Added a fix to prevent an issue in new Driver Career saves where, under certain circumstances, the player could be left without a contract offer from any team at the end of a season.
- Fixed a rare issue in My Team Career where a team could fail to hire enough drivers for the following season.
- Updated Sponsor boards at various tracks.
- Updated the time of day for Qualifying and the Sprint Race at Miami.
- Fixed various minor graphical issues at various tracks.
- Fixed an issue with Fernando Alonso’s car which could appear incorrect after receiving terminal damage.
- Joshua Pearce now has the British flag on his car.
- Updated the post-race Engineer VO for Ferrari.
- Fixed an issue in Driver & My Team Career where the broadcast commentary team could refer to it being the 2025 season after season one.
- When the player has low tire wear the Engineer will now recommend extending the stint instead of coming in for a pit stop.
- Fixed an issue where at the first race of the season, the Engineer could refer to the previous race.
- Fixed an issue preventing the `Vehicle Condition` Engineer voice command from working correctly.
- The Engineer will no longer inform you that a problem with the DRS is an engine issue.
- Fixed a number of minor issues with the placement and appearance of numbers and sponsors in the Decal Editor.
- Improved the visual quality in Far Chase camera view when using PlayStation®5 Pro Quality Mode.
- Fixed an issue on PC which could cause the game to appear incorrectly on some HDR monitors, particularly those supporting FreeSync Premium Pro.
- The `Ultra Max` detail preset has been removed from graphics cards which cannot support this preset (PC Only).
- Updated the AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) implementation to version 3.1.4.
- Improved the visual quality of various items when shown in the Item Store.
- Added a `Play Preview` button to the Tinnitus Relief Filter in the Accessibility Options menu.
- Fixed a number of issues which were caused by using a Rewind while in the pit lane.
- F1 Movie Preview chapter is now relabelled as `Free Preview`.
- Fixed an issue where, in places where there’s a mid-chapter driver swap, the second driver would be given the first driver’s harvested ERS.
- Fixed an issue with UDP to ensure the year is always set correctly.
- Various UI improvements.
- General stability improvements.
Overall, Patch 1.06 for F1 25 appears to be a significant step towards refining the simulation experience, particularly in challenging weather and physics interactions that previously disadvantaged players. While driver rating updates are still anticipated, these foundational improvements should contribute to a more balanced and enjoyable racing environment.
