EA Hits the Brakes on F1 26—and Accelerates Toward a Franchise Reboot

By Benjamin Webster

EA Sports is making one of its boldest pivots yet in the Formula 1 gaming franchise, marking a shift that could reshape how yearly sports titles operate. Instead of releasing F1 26 as a standalone game, EA has confirmed that the upcoming 2026 season will arrive as a premium expansion within F1 25. Meanwhile, the next full entry, F1 27, is being positioned as a complete reinvention—one that takes advantage of extra development time to rethink what an F1 game can be.

For long-time fans, the decision arrives like a controlled skid on a tight corner: unexpected, but undeniably strategic. The series has adhered to an annual release rhythm for over a decade, offering incremental improvements and updated liveries with each new season. But Formula 1 itself is heading into a transformative era in 2026 with sweeping regulation changes, new power units, and new aerodynamic philosophies. In response, EA appears to be choosing modernization over momentum.

The 2026 expansion for F1 25 will bring the new grid, new cars, and updated handling that reflect the incoming regulations. Instead of paying full price for what would likely be a transitional version of the game, players will get the experience inside the title they already own. It’s a move that respects the player base while giving developers the freedom to build something more ambitious behind the scenes.

What EA ultimately delivers in this expansion will shape how fans perceive the decision. Expected updates include the redesigned 2026 car models, new liveries, shifting team lineups, improved physics, and refreshed career and My Team modes built around the new season’s identity. In many ways, the expansion will function as F1 26—just packaged in a more consumer-friendly way.

All of this leads to F1 27, which EA is describing as a “reimagined” entry in the franchise. That word alone suggests bigger changes than the series has seen in years—potentially deeper gameplay systems, new presentation layers, stronger immersion tools, and more sophisticated simulation elements. By stepping off the treadmill of annual production, the team now has space to rebuild rather than simply update.

This is not just a shift for the franchise but a signal to the industry. Sports games often rely on yearly releases, even when fans crave deeper innovation. EA’s decision to pause, rethink, and realign the F1 roadmap with real-world regulation changes could set a new standard for how sports titles evolve.

For now, F1 25 becomes the foundation for the next two years, with the 2026 expansion arriving as its most important update yet. And while the road to F1 27 stretches ahead, the promise is clear: a renewed, revitalized, and more ambitious era of Formula 1 gaming is on the horizon—one built not on deadlines, but on vision.