F1 25’s 2026 Season Pack replaces a sequel with a major paid update
Electronic Arts took an unusual route with its Formula One series in 2026. Instead of replacing F1 25 with a separate annual sequel, the publisher brought the new championship into the existing game through a paid Season Pack.
The result is more substantial than a routine roster update. The expansion adds the redesigned 2026 cars, an 11-team grid, revised driver line-ups and Madrid’s new MADRING circuit. It also creates an important buying distinction: existing owners can add the Season Pack to F1 25, while newcomers can buy the F1 25: 2026 Season Edition bundle containing both.
Why there is no separate F1 26 game
Annual sports games usually ask players to buy a new base game each season. EA broke that pattern after F1 25, announcing that the following championship would arrive as premium content rather than a standalone F1 26.
The decision keeps the 2025 and 2026 seasons inside the same game, but it does not make the newer content free. The Season Pack requires the F1 25 base game, all current game updates, an internet connection and an EA Account. The Season Edition is the combined package for buyers who do not already own the base game.
That distinction matters when comparing prices. A discounted copy of F1 25 alone does not include the 2026 championship content, while the add-on cannot run independently.
The 2026 cars change more than their appearance
Formula One introduced a new technical era in 2026, and the Season Pack attempts to reflect it. EA describes the virtual cars as lighter and smaller, with active aerodynamics and revised handling built around the new regulations.
For players, the meaningful change is how the cars behave rather than the shape of their bodywork. EA says the new models use F1 25’s updated physics to create a more responsive experience on both controllers and racing wheels. As with any officially licensed racing game, that remains a simulation of the sport rather than a complete reproduction of every engineering system in a real car.
EA also warned that some final car models would arrive after launch through an update. An internet connection is therefore part of obtaining the complete version of the 2026 grid, even for players who mostly race offline.
Audi and Cadillac expand the grid
The expansion moves the game from ten constructors to 11. Audi replaces Sauber, while Cadillac joins as a new entrant with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez. The reshuffle also places Isack Hadjar alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull and Arvid Lindblad with Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls.
These changes feed into more than quick races. Driver Career and My Team use the revised line-ups, although EA places limits on what carries over from the 2025 season. Custom teams and existing career saves do not transfer into the 2026 championship, and the Konnersport and APXGP teams cannot be added to a 2026 Driver Career or My Team campaign.
Players invested in a long-running save should therefore treat the new season as a fresh start rather than a seamless continuation.
MADRING is tied to the new cars
The headline circuit addition is MADRING, the 5.4km Madrid venue that combines street sections with purpose-built track. Its 22 corners make it the first new Formula One circuit added to the series since 2023.
There is a restriction that is easy to miss: EA says MADRING can only be driven with the 2026 cars. Players cannot simply take every historical or 2025 car onto the new circuit.
A September update expanded the package again with the 2026 Formula 2 season, updated Formula One cars and additional liveries. That continuing support makes the expansion feel closer to a live seasonal platform, although access to some updates still depends on installing the latest version of the game.
F1 25 remains underneath the expansion
The Season Pack does not replace the original game’s principal modes. F1 25 introduced a rebuilt My Team experience and the third chapter of Braking Point, its story-led campaign. The 2026 content sits on top of that foundation rather than turning it into a completely different title.
Players can therefore move between the two championship years, but the design also exposes the compromise behind updating an existing release. The menus, technology and broader structure remain those of F1 25, while the paid expansion supplies the teams, cars and sporting context of 2026.
What buyers should check
The first check is ownership. Existing F1 25 players need the Season Pack, while new players should compare the price of buying the base game and expansion separately with the combined Season Edition.
Platform availability also matters. Store listings can differ by region, and online multiplayer may require the relevant console subscription in addition to an EA Account. Players using a racing wheel should confirm support for their exact model rather than assuming every peripheral works across every platform.
The game includes optional in-game purchases and paid random items, so households buying for younger players may also want to review platform-level spending controls.
A different kind of annual update
The 2026 Season Pack is most compelling for players who already enjoy F1 25 and want the current championship without moving to a separate game. New cars, two additional team identities, a changed driver grid and MADRING give it enough substance to be more than a cosmetic refresh.
Its value is less clear for someone satisfied with the 2025 season or unwilling to restart a career. The lack of save transfer means the new championship demands another beginning, even though it runs inside the same base game.
The release also marks an interesting change for Electronic Arts. A publisher closely associated with annual sports releases has used an expansion to bridge two Formula One seasons. Readers who want the wider company context can also explore the studios and franchises behind EA.
For the complete content requirements and latest updates, consult EA’s official F1 25 page before buying.
