F1 23 VR is a PC game played through a VR headset connected to a gaming PC — it is not available on standalone Meta Quest and does not run on PSVR2. To play in VR you need: a capable gaming PC (RTX 2070 / equivalent or better recommended), a PC VR headset (Quest connected via Link cable or Air Link, Valve Index, HTC Vive, Pico 4), and ideally a racing wheel for the best experience. This is a significant barrier for school use — it is not a pick-up-and-play headset experience. For schools with a VR-ready PC and a wired headset, however, it is the most authentic and curriculum-rich F1 experience available in VR.

What is F1 23?

F1 23 is EA and Codemasters' official 2023 Formula 1 simulation — the latest in a franchise that has been the definitive F1 game for over a decade. It includes the full roster of 20 official drivers, all 10 teams with accurately modelled 2023 cars, and all 26 circuits on the 2023 calendar including the new Las Vegas Strip Circuit and Losail International Circuit in Qatar. The full career mode, My Team management, Braking Point story mode and multiplayer are all present.

Following F1 22's introduction of PC VR support, F1 23 retains and improves upon it. Every race in every mode can be played from inside the cockpit in VR — complete with 360° vision, your in-game steering wheel displaying race position and speed, and the ability to customise HUD elements for different levels of immersion. It is also the only F1 VR experience that supports racing wheel peripherals (Thrustmaster, Logitech, Fanatec), which transforms the experience from impressive to genuinely remarkable when combined with force feedback.

The 2023 instalment added Precision Drive Technology — improvements to acceleration, braking and handling feel that make tight circuits like Monaco considerably more accessible — alongside Red Flags (authentic race stoppages), a 35% Race Distance option, and the Tech Points upgrade system for My Team career mode. Braking Point story mode returns with a new season following fictional team Konnersport Racing and drivers Aiden Jackson and Callie Mayer across two championship seasons.

On the Grid

Curriculum & Educational Fit

F1 23 has the strongest curriculum links of any racing VR experience — but the PC requirement sharply limits practical school accessibility. For schools where it's feasible, the educational value is exceptional:

Physics — F1 cars are the pinnacle of applied physics. Downforce, drag, tyre degradation, DRS, energy recovery systems (ERS), braking distances, acceleration curves — all are simulated and can be discussed in the context of real F1 engineering. The game includes detailed telemetry data for car setup. Geography — 26 real circuits in 22 countries across 5 continents. The physical geography of each venue — Spa's weather, Singapore's humidity, Bahrain's desert heat — all affect real racing and can be taught through the game's circuit selection. Business Studies — My Team mode simulates running an F1 constructor: budgeting, sponsor management, driver contracts, car development priorities. Engineering / D&T — the real-world discussion of F1 as an engineering competition — aerodynamics, hybrid power units, carbon fibre, simulation — is naturally unlocked by playing the official licensed game. All ages — clean content, no concerns.