[38][39][40][41][42] Early critical response was positive, with reviews praised improvements in handling and AI and the way new rule changes - in particular KERS and DRS - added an additional layer of strategy to the game.

[17] The Guardian gave the Xbox 360 version a score of four stars out of five and said it was "pretty much an essential purchase for any self-respecting petrol-head, and a lot more compelling and enticing than those who don't dream about lap times might imagine".

[43] The Daily Telegraph similarly gave the same console version four stars out of five, saying that "Codemasters have made a plethora of improvements under the bonnet, polishing an engine that should prove a fantastic basis for the planned yearly iterations of their F1 franchise".

[44] Digital Spy gave said PlayStation 3 version a similar score of four stars out of five, saying that "it's not a wholesale reinvention, but rather a confident leap forward from a publisher in tune with its sport.

[36] The website also gave the PlayStation Vita version three stars out of five and called it "a laudable attempt at scaling down a sophisticated simulation racer for a handheld platform, but it would have benefited from stronger AI and more challenge.

In its defense, it caters well for newcomers due to its casual Challenges mode and forgiving level of difficulty, but still falls marginally short of expectations".