EA Sports F1 Driver Ratings: A step into the darkness towards realism

EA Ratings for the 2023 iteration of the game have been met with some staunch criticism.

Electronic Arts and Codemasters have recently unveiled the highly anticipated F1 driver ratings for their upcoming game, EA SPORTS F1 23. These ratings play a vital role in the game's My Team mode, allowing players to assess the real-world attributes of current Formula 1 drivers and construct their dream teams for an immersive gameplay experience.

Based on real-world data and focusing more on current form rather than historical statistics, the ratings comprise four key categories: Experience (EXP), Racecraft (RAC), Awareness (AWA), and Pace (PAC). These categories provide a comprehensive evaluation of a driver's performance, and the overall rating (RTG) is derived from a combination of these factors. Importantly, the ratings are expected to be dynamic, reflecting the evolving nature of the 2023 Formula 1 season.

Drivers	Experience	Racecraft	Awareness	Pace	Overall rating
Max Verstappen	84	97	85	95	94
Lewis Hamilton	97	94	94	90	92
Fernando Alonso	99	91	78	93	92
Charles Leclerc	77	92	85	90	89
Sergio Perez	91	93	86	87	89
Lando Norris	76	91	79	91	89
Carlos Sainz Jr	84	92	81	87	88
George Russell	76	87	83	91	88
Valtterri Bottas	88	86	97	86	87
Esteban Ocon	77	92	76	86	86
Pierre Gasly	78	89	76	85	85
Lance Stroll	79	91	78	81	84
Alex Albon	75	81	78	86	83
Yuki Tsunoda	69	79	75	87	83
Kevin Magnussen	81	79	85	82	81
Nico Hulkenberg	86	79	81	80	80
Zhou Guanyu	63	78	74	81	78
Oscar Piastri	74	73	79	77	74
Logan Sargeant	48	84	75	67	71
Nyck de Vries	50	84	75	67	71

Examining the individual driver ratings, Max Verstappen reigns supreme with an impressive 94 overall rating. Verstappen's outstanding racecraft (97) and exceptional pace (95) firmly establish him at the top. His experience rating of 84 is self-explanatory.

Sharing second place with a rating of 92 is Lewis Hamilton, a driver with an illustrious seven championships, and Fernando Alonso, who has shown remarkable performance since joining Aston Martin. Alonso's pace rating of 93 places him as the second-quickest driver on the grid.

In terms of Experience, there is one driver who stands out above the rest. At 41 years old, Fernando Alonso takes the lead with an exceptional rating of 99, closely followed by Lewis Hamilton with a rating of 97. Alonso's extensive career in Formula 1, which began in 2001, justifies his high rating in this category.

Following Hamilton and Alonso, three drivers boast an 89 overall rating. Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc, familiar faces at the front of the grid, are joined by the talented Lando Norris. Norris boasts a pace rating of 91, same as George Russell and higher than Leclerc and Perez which is quite questionable considering Mercedes, Ferrari and RedBull have quicker cars than McLaren and Russell, Leclerc and Perez have clearly outperformed Norris in this season by a considerable margin. Although Norris lacks race wins in Formula One, his remarkable talent earns him a higher rating than drivers like Carlos Sainz Jr. (88) and George Russell (88).

Interestingly, in the Awareness category of the driver ratings, it is not a World Champion who holds the highest rating. Surprisingly, Valtteri Bottas of Alfa Romeo takes the lead with an impressive rating of 97. Valtterri Bottas (87) is followed by the Alpine drivers- Esteban Ocon (86), Pierre Gasly (85) then comes Lance Stroll (84), Alex Albon (83), Yuki Tsunoda (83), Kevin Magnussen (81) and Nico Hulkenberg (80)

As for the rookie drivers- Oscar Piastri, Logan Sargeant and Nyck de Vries find themselves towards the lower end of the table. There are some questions about the slightly puzzling experience rating, Oscar Piastri is seen rated higher than second-year driver Zhou Guanyu and third-year driver Yuki Tsunoda which should not be the case.

For Sargeant and de Vries, their lack of experience and pace, partly influenced by the performance of their cars, contribute to their lower ratings. Surprisingly, both rookies showcase a commendable racecraft rating of 84, surpassing many more experienced drivers like Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen. Looking at all these points, there are still certain weaknesses in the logic of the ratings that the in-season updates should rectify, aiming for a more realistic and enjoyable gaming experience.

With EA SPORTS F1 23 set to release on June 16, and early access is available from June 1. These driver ratings provide a glimpse into the exciting world of Formula 1 gaming. While the ratings demonstrate an effort to enhance realism, addressing inconsistencies and fine-tuning the logic through in-season updates will further enhance the overall gaming experience.