EA Sports officially revealed the F1 25: 2026 Season Pack on May 20 with a full trailer premiere. The paid DLC brings new 2026-regulation cars, Audi and Cadillac as new constructors, the Madring circuit, updated driver lineups, and revised handling physics to the existing game.
EA Sports and Codemasters premiered the official reveal trailer for the F1 25: 2026 Season Pack on May 20, 2026, at 4pm BST (11am ET). This paid DLC expansion replaces the traditional annual standalone game release for the first time since Codemasters acquired the F1 license in 2009. F1 25 originally launched on May 30, 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, earning Metacritic scores between 80 and 82 and an 84% recommendation rate on OpenCritic.
Why a DLC Instead of a New Game?
EA Sports announced in November 2025 that there would be no F1 26. Instead, the 2026 season content would arrive as a paid expansion for F1 25. Lee Mather, Senior Creative Director at Codemasters, stated that “with Formula 1’s momentum on and off the track, now is the perfect time for us to look ahead and build for the future.” The decision was framed as a “strategic reset for the F1 franchise,” giving the development team space to build an entirely new, reimagined F1 game for 2027. This breaks a cycle of annual releases that had continued uninterrupted for over 15 years.
What’s Included in the 2026 Season Pack?
The DLC is designed to bring the full scope of the 2026 Formula One World Championship into F1 25. Based on confirmed details from EA, Wikipedia, and multiple verified sources, the Season Pack includes:
- New 2026-regulation cars: Completely redesigned vehicles reflecting the sweeping aerodynamic and power unit changes for the 2026 season, including active aerodynamics and lighter chassis.
- Audi and Cadillac as new constructors: The grid expands to 11 teams and 22 cars for the first time since 2016.
- Audi and Ford power units: New engine suppliers added to the game’s roster.
- Updated driver lineups: Sergio Pérez, Valtteri Bottas, and Arvid Lindblad are among the incoming drivers. Lindblad replaces Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls, with Hadjar moving to Red Bull Racing.
- Madring (Madrid Street Circuit): The sole new track on the 2026 calendar arrives with the DLC, ahead of Madrid’s inaugural Spanish Grand Prix event.
- Formula 2 2026 season drivers: F2 content is expected to be part of the package, though EA briefly listed and then removed this detail from its website.
- Revised handling and performance model: Vehicle physics updated to reflect how the new-regulation cars look and feel.
- Race weekend updates: New liveries, team wear, and circuit adjustments aligned with 2026 regulations.
One notable detail: the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix remain on the 2026 in-game calendar despite the real-life cancellations of those races, since these tracks were already part of the base game.
Who Are the Cover Stars?
The key art, released on May 18, features three drivers representing the biggest narratives of the 2026 season. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) takes centre stage. He’s flanked by Gabriel Bortoleto, the reigning F2 and F3 champion making his full F1 debut with Audi, and 10-time Grand Prix winner Valtteri Bottas, who represents the brand-new Cadillac team. The choice directly highlights the two new constructors entering the paddock alongside Hamilton’s high-profile Ferrari chapter.
When Does It Release and How Much Will It Cost?
No official release date has been confirmed by EA, but a Steam listing briefly showed June 3, 2026 before being updated. That date aligns perfectly with the end of F1 25’s Season 6 Podium Pass, which runs from March 4 through June 3. Community speculation strongly points to this window. Pricing has not been officially announced. Based on precedent from EA WRC’s expansion bundle (priced around €20/$20), community estimates suggest the Season Pack could cost between $20 and $30. The base game F1 25 is required to play the DLC. After release, new buyers will likely only be able to purchase F1 25 bundled with the Season Pack.
How Will the 2026 Regulations Change the Game?
The 2026 Formula 1 technical regulations represent the sport’s most significant overhaul in years, and those changes will directly reshape the in-game experience. According to the FIA, the minimum car weight drops from 800 kg to 768 kg. Full-time active aerodynamics arrive for the first time, with front and rear wings dynamically adjusting between “corner mode” and “straight-line mode.” The MGU-H is eliminated, while MGU-K output jumps from 120 kW to 350 kW, meaning roughly half of the car’s power comes from its electric motor.
Downforce is expected to decrease by approximately 30%, with drag reducing by around 55%. Cars will be shorter (maximum wheelbase reduced to 3.4m) and narrower (floor width cut to 1.9m), with narrower Pirelli tyres. A new Overtake Mode gives chasing cars extra electrical power when within one second of the car ahead. All of these changes should produce a noticeably different driving feel in the game compared to the 2025-spec cars.
Madring: Madrid Joins the Calendar
The Madring is the sole new circuit on the 2026 calendar. Madrid’s street circuit takes over the Spanish Grand Prix title from Barcelona, which remains on the calendar rebranded as the Barcelona-Catalunya GP. Spain hosts two races in the same season for the first time since 2012. The cover art prominently features the Madring in the background, all but confirming its inclusion in the DLC well before the official reveal. For racing game fans, a brand-new track is always one of the most compelling reasons to pick up new content.
What About 2027?
EA Sports has confirmed that a fully rebuilt F1 game is planned for 2027. According to OperationSports, EA stated the 2027 title is “supposed to look and play differently from the current games,” promising more gameplay options and “the biggest shift the series has had in a while.” The 2026 Season Pack essentially serves as a bridge, keeping players engaged with current-season content while Codemasters invests development time into a generational leap for the franchise.
Which Platforms Support the DLC?
The F1 25: 2026 Season Pack will be available on all platforms the base game supports: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (Steam and EA App). An internet connection, all game updates, and an EA account are required to access the expansion. F1 25 is currently available through EA Play, including via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, though Game Pass subscribers may still need to purchase the expansion separately.
The Questions Players Keep Asking
Is the 2026 Season Pack a free update?
No. EA confirmed from the outset that this is a paid expansion. The price has not yet been officially revealed, but community estimates based on comparable EA DLC range from $20 to $30.
Do I need to own F1 25 to play it?
Yes. The base game is mandatory. After the Season Pack releases, new players will likely only be able to buy F1 25 as a bundle that includes the DLC.
Will Career Mode reflect the 2026 season?
EA has confirmed that all race weekend content will reflect the 2026 season, including new liveries, team wear, and circuit updates. The expanded 11-team, 22-car grid with updated driver lineups will carry through to career and other game modes.
Is F2 2026 included?
EA’s own website briefly referenced F2 2026 content before removing it. Wikipedia lists the 2026 Formula 2 season drivers as part of the pack. Official confirmation is expected to follow the reveal trailer.
Will there be new handling physics?
Yes. EA stated that “vehicle handling and performance will be updated, reflecting how the cars look and feel,” in line with the sweeping 2026 regulation changes. Expect active aero, revised battery management, and lighter, less draggy cars to feel substantially different from the 2025 vehicles.
The F1 25: 2026 Season Pack marks an unprecedented moment for the franchise: the first time a full Formula 1 season has been delivered as DLC rather than a standalone game. With two new constructors, a brand-new Madrid street circuit, dramatically different regulations, and a revamped driver grid, this expansion is shaping up to be one of the most content-rich updates the series has ever offered. Full details on pricing and the confirmed release date are expected to emerge in the days following the May 20 reveal.
