Characters & Roles

Characters & Roles

Overview

F1 23 features a variety of characters that you can play as or interact with. These include the 20 real-world Formula 1 drivers from the 2023 season, a set of fictional characters from the Braking Point story mode, the custom driver you create in My Team, and the full roster of Formula 2 drivers. While there are no traditional classes or heroes, each character has distinct attributes, playstyles, and roles within the game’s modes. This guide covers every major character, their strengths and weaknesses, unlock conditions, and how they fit into the overall experience.

1. Official F1 Drivers (2023 Season)

Each real-world F1 driver is fully controllable in Quick Race, Career, My Team (as your teammate), and online modes. They have in-game ratings for Racecraft, Awareness, Pace, and Consistency (scored 0–100). These ratings affect AI performance in single‑player and are used to define driver identity. All drivers are available from the start.

#### Top Drivers by Overall Rating (Example – approximate values)

Full Driver List (20 drivers):

• Red Bull: Max Verstappen, Sergio Pérez


• Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton, George Russell


• Ferrari: Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz


• McLaren: Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri


• Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll


• Alpine: Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly


• Williams: Alex Albon, Logan Sargeant


• AlphaTauri: Yuki Tsunoda, Nyck de Vries


• Alfa Romeo: Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu


• Haas: Kevin Magnussen, Nico Hülkenberg


Strengths & Weaknesses (General)

• Choosing a high‑rated driver as your teammate in My Team gives you a stronger benchmark but also a more demanding opponent in contract negotiations.


• Lower‑rated drivers are easier to outperform, making them safer choices if you focus on your own progression.


• AI drivers have unique behavioral traits (e.g., Hamilton is more conservative, Verstappen more aggressive), affecting race difficulty.


Unlock Conditions: All F1 drivers are available immediately in any mode that allows driver selection.

Recommended ‘Build’ (No equipment) – simply pick a driver that matches your skill level and preferred challenge.

Team Synergy – In Career/My Team, choosing a teammate with complementary attributes can boost the team’s overall performance index (e.g., a consistent driver paired with a fast one balances development focus).



2. Braking Point Story Characters



Braking Point is a narrative campaign featuring a set of original characters. You play as Aiden Jackson in the story, but you also interact with and control other characters in specific missions.

#### Aiden Jackson

• Background: A young British driver rising through the ranks, signed by a fictional team (Interceptor Racing) for his first F1 season. He is determined, but inexperienced and often clashes with his teammate.


• Strengths: Adaptable learner; his attributes improve as the story progresses. No fixed weaknesses beyond storyline setbacks.


• Playstyle: The story forces you to face specific challenges (e.g., wet races, defensive driving). Your choices affect relationships, but not permanent stats.


• Unlock Conditions: Braking Point is unlocked from the main menu; you start as Aiden.


• Recommended ‘Build’: Not applicable – Braking Point uses fixed car setups tied to story segments. Focus on following mission objectives (overtake, hold position, etc.).


#### Devon Butler

• Background: A cocky, wealthy American driver, Aiden’s teammate and primary rival. He uses dirty tactics and has a strong PR presence.


• Strengths: High starting pace, aggressive overtaking, but poor sportsmanship.


• Weaknesses: Prone to mistakes when pressured; disliked by the team principal.


• Playstyle: In story races where you control Devon (rare), use his aggression to push through traffic. When racing against him, expect contact.


• Unlock Conditions: Part of the story; unlocked automatically when you reach certain chapters.


#### Casper Akkerman

• Background: A veteran Swedish driver, former champion, now a mentor figure to Aiden. He drives for a top team (YouClash Racing) and is calm, wise.


• Strengths: Excellent racecraft, tire management, strategic calls. Very consistent.


• Weaknesses: Slightly lower peak qualifying speed due to age.


• Playstyle: In story races where you control Casper, prioritize clean driving and long‑term strategy. His radio calls provide hints.


• Unlock Conditions: Encountered early in chapter 2; playable in specific missions later.


#### Other Characters (Not Playable Directly)

• Andre Correia – Your race engineer in Braking Point; offers advice but no driving role.


• Rebecca Ivanova – Team principal; makes decisions that affect story branches.


• Sean Moore – A rival from F2; appears in flashback races.


Team Synergy in Braking Point – The story is linear, so synergy is fixed. Your relationship with Devon and Casper influences dialogue and minor gameplay objectives (e.g., “Help Devon with a tow” vs. “Pass him immediately”).



3. My Team Custom Driver



In the My Team career mode, you create your own driver (name, appearance, number). This driver has five attributes that you can upgrade over time: Racecraft, Awareness, Pace, Consistency, and Experience. Unlike real drivers, your custom driver starts with low ratings (around 50–70) and improves through practice programs, race results, and facility upgrades.


• Background: None – completely blank slate.


• Strengths: Fully customizable; you decide which attributes to prioritize.


• Weaknesses: Initially low overall; no inherent bonuses. You must earn every stat point.


• Playstyle: Adapts to your driving style – you can build a driver that excels in qualifying (high Pace), race management (high Consistency), or all‑rounder (balanced).


• Unlock Conditions: Start a new My Team save from the main menu.


• Recommended Attributes Build:

- Beginners: Focus on Consistency and Awareness first to reduce mistakes and improve race finishes.
- Experienced players: Prioritize Pace and Racecraft to challenge for wins quickly.
- Balanced: Distribute points evenly for a steady progression.

• Team Synergy: Your custom driver’s attributes combine with your chosen teammate’s ratings to influence overall team performance and sponsor goals. A high‑rated teammate will demand a bigger salary but pushes the team forward.




4. F2 2023 Drivers



F1 23 includes the full 2023 Formula 2 grid, with drivers such as Frederik Vesti, Théo Pourchaire, Oliver Bearman, Ayumu Iwasa, Jack Doohan, and others. These are playable in the F2 2023 game mode (separate championship) and also appear in Braking Point’s flashbacks and some Career Mode scenarios (as potential replacements or rivals).


• Strengths/Weaknesses: Each F2 driver has a set of ratings similar to F1 drivers but generally lower (40–70 range). The top F2 drivers (e.g., Pourchaire) can be strong challenges in F2 career.


• Playstyle: F2 cars are slower and less downforce‑dependent than F1; driving requires smoother inputs. The driver choice matters less than in F1 due to shorter races.


• Unlock Conditions: All F2 drivers are available from the start in F2 mode. They cannot be used in F1 modes.


• No equipment/builds – the F2 season is standardized aside from car upgrades in your team’s development tree.




5. Roles & Team Dynamics



Beyond individual characters, F1 23 has structured roles within game modes:

#### Driver

• Playable: You control the car on track. All F1, F2, and story characters fall under this role.


• Responsibilities: Race preparation (practice programs), qualifying, race strategy (pitting, tire management, overtaking).


#### Teammate

• AI Controlled: In Career/My Team, your teammate is a separate driver. Their performance affects Constructor Standings and team morale.


• Synergy: A fast teammate pushes development (more R&D points) but can beat you. A slower teammate makes your life easier but limits team progress.


#### Team Principal (Career/My Team)

• Not a playable character, but a role you control from the menu. Decides: driver contracts, upgrades, facility investments, sponsor choices.


• Impact: Your decisions shape the team’s trajectory. For example, hiring a high‑rated teammate boosts performance but costs more.


#### Safety Car Driver / Stewards / Commentators

• Non‑playable characters that affect gameplay (safety car deployments, penalty decisions, race commentary). No unlock conditions or builds.




Summary




• Main playable characters: 20 F1 drivers, 3 Braking Point characters (plus the custom My Team driver), and 22 F2 drivers.


• Key strengths/weaknesses are reflected in driver ratings and AI behavior.


• Unlock conditions: All real and F2 drivers are unlocked from the start; story characters unlock via progression; My Team driver is created on demand.


• No equipment or builds exist – driver choice is about personal preference, challenge level, and narrative immersion.


• Team synergy matters most in career modes where driver attributes combine with team R&D to determine performance.

Choose your character wisely, but remember: your own skill behind the wheel is the deciding factor.