There are two main versions of the upcoming EA SPORTS F1 23 video game, the regular ‘standard’ edition and a premium digital-only ‘Champions Edition’.
One of the bonus pieces of content for this version is the inclusion of four My Team Icons. These have historically been former Formula 1 drivers, now retired, who have been particularly successful. They appear, in F1 2021 and F1 22, on the My Team driver market after your first season. You can then, if you fancy, sign them to your team.
Now, thanks to the Epic Games Store landing page for F1 23, the four icons for the latest game have been unveiled:
- Nigel Mansell
- Jamie Chadwick
- Pastor Maldonado
- Kamui Kobayashi
Mansell was the 1992 world champion driving for Williams, and across his 31-grand prix-winning top-flight career, the moustachioed Midlander also drove for Lotus, Ferrari and McLaren. Outside of F1, he won the 1993 CART IndyCar World Series.
Maldonado, previewed in the recent Las Vegas circuit gameplay, won the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix, a feat the Venezuelan was never to repeat. While Kobayashi never won a grand prix, he lit up the sport with daring overtaking manoeuvres during a sting at Sauber. Since F1, he’s taken two FIA World Endurance Championship titles, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans plus two victories at the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Chadwick is the outlier here, having never raced in F1, however, she is a Williams development driver and won three back-to-back W Series titles, the last two as an F1 support category. She has moved to a ride in Indy NXT this season.
These latest My Team Icons follow eight previous additions:
- Michael Schumacher (F1 2021)
- Ayrton Senna (F1 2021)
- Jenson Button (F1 2021)
- Felipe Massa (F1 2021)
- David Coulthard (F1 2021)
- Alain Prost (F1 2021)
- Nico Rosberg (F1 2021)
- Mark Webber (F1 22)
- Mika Hakkinen (F1 22)
- Jacques Villeneuve (F1 22)
- Nico Hulkenberg (F1 22)
Previously categorised as an ‘icon’, Hulkenberg is now back on the full-time grid and part of the main driver roster.
Finally, a ‘number’ of Braking Point 2 characters will become My Team Icons too, with Aiden Jackson and Devon Butler confirmed so far.
Max Verstappen items teased
The My Team Icons aren’t the only addition to the Champions Edition of F1 23, as it will also include a ‘Max Verstappen Race Wear Pack’. The following items are included:
- Car livery
- Crash helmet
- Gloves
- Suit
They are said to be designed by the two-time F1 champion, and in a recent Las Vegas gameplay video, if you look closely you can see parts of the design. It looks as if they will carry the ‘Verstappen.com Racing’ logo.
This typically represents the Dutch driver’s extracurricular activities away from Red Bull Racing, and this design can be seen as part of the Team Redline esports team’s livery, father Jos’ rally efforts and the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari’s competition in GT World Challenge.
Note also the Braking Point 2 racewear items next to the blue and red Verstappen-themed items. The limited-time Las Vegas content is also showcased in the same video, featuring a natty chrome look.
The Champions Edition releases three days early, on the 13th June and is £79.99/$89.99 for PC or £89.99/$89.99 on PlayStation and Xbox.
Images: Motorsport Images. Lede image: Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, and Alain Prost on the 1990 Portuguese GP podium by Ercole Colombo
