F1 25: first details of the 2026 season DLC

EA has announced that the first details of the 2026 Season Pack update for F1 25 will be available on Thursday, May 20, 2026. This marks the introduction of new content for the popular racing game, which is fully focused on the changes coming to the upcoming Formula 1 season.

Update details

The reveal trailer for the DLC will go live at 16:00 UK time on May 20, 2026, which is 11:00 EDT, 08:00 PDT, and 01:00 AEST on May 21. For now, the so-called "cover" athletes for the update have also been revealed. These include none other than Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 champion, as well as Gabriel Bortoleto, the former F3 and F2 champion, and veteran driver Valtteri Bottas, known for his impressive performances in motorsport.

New teams and changes

Gabriel Bortoleto will represent the Audi team and Valtteri Bottas will represent the Cadillac team. This indicates that the DLC will introduce not only new drivers, but also updated team structures that come together in the 2026 season. EA has confirmed that there will be no standalone F1 game releasing alongside this season, meaning the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship will only arrive as a paid expansion for F1 25.

DLC content

The update content will reflect all the new rules and cars of the 2026 season. This is especially important, as recent comments from current drivers such as Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen have put the controversial characteristics of the new cars under the microscope. Alonso has described modern Formula 1 as a "battery world championship," and Norris has voiced concerns about how the cars have changed compared to earlier models.

Future of the F1 series

The next full game in the F1 series is planned for 2027 and will be "reimagined" as a more expansive experience with new ways to play, aimed at fans worldwide. Updates to F1 25 have already noted that there are some areas where the game falls short, especially compared with earlier titles like F1 2020, which many fans still consider the best recent entry.

Conclusion

The upcoming expansions for F1 25 give fans the chance to follow the new Formula 1 changes up close and feel like an exciting development for the franchise. The arrival of new teams and drivers will undoubtedly change the game's dynamics and increase player engagement. With the DLC release date approaching, excitement among fans can only grow.