30 facts about the first Formula 1 PS1 game

Formula 1's console gaming boom really started in the mid-1990s when its first official game was released on the PlayStation. In this video we take a look back at the features that made 'Formula 1' stand out from anything we'd seen before in console gaming, telling the story by picking out 30 fascinating facts. What are your memories of this game? Tell us in the comments!
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[@monchavo]

Another fun fact: I was the runner at The Sound Company recording studio where Murray recorded his commentary track for this game. I let Murray in and made him his tea. It was a long session - four or five hours. He was a real gent the whole afternoon. To get Murray in the mood we turned off the aircon in the booth, gave him his traditional commentators mic and cranked the heat up. He took his shirt off at one point, and listening to him do his commentary from the control room, ranting into his Coles mic is one of my abiding memories of the man. I kept a script from the session, but it has long since disappeared. I go into more detail in a reddit thread if you're interested.

[@FRS_Heero]

Awesome story. Must've been such fond memories looking back at it now

[@faisalrahim9614]

Please do I think r/formula1 will like that

[@aident0642]

Please go in detail one day.

[@Mlaargaar]

That's absolutely wicked!

[@GeOzAlien]

What memories to be cherished! He is an absolute legend!

[@cdname47]

Fact 1: Martin Brundle didn't turn up until f197 and only said one phrase regularly Brundle: "you're right there, murray"

[@lmcd2340]

Still to this day I repeat lol

[@PieterFret]

I remember that, lol. Brundle was in this game too though, as a driver.

[@murphymoerf]

"Yes, that's true"

[@cdname47]

@@MadGaz85 You're right there, Madgaz

[@SirGingerOfKnight]

and they kept and used the take where his voice breaks when he says the line "tail end tEEams"

[@Reiji_Kurose]

That bonus track would be a $5 DLC now

[@purwantiallan5089]

Or even $100 in F1 24. 😒

[@mattjc1021]

Got this off Santa for Christmas in 1996. Watched every lap of every Grand Prix since Melbourne 1997.

[@dazzosheps]

Same!!

[@dickief1]

This game got me into watching F1 properly which led me to my present career.

[@typicalguy2966]

dickief1 I’m interested in what your career is. If you’re not comfortable saying that’s totally fine. It’s just that I would like to one day have a career in engineering and would like to know what steps to take. Thanks

[@JT-ko2ib]

@@dickief1 Yeah, what career? Don't leave us hanging like this.

[@dickief1]

J T Sorry, that wasn’t my intention. I’m a wiring harness technician and have worked on many F1 teams during my 20 year career.

[@ClassicFormulaOne1]

This game was the reason I bought a PS1 in October 1996. Loved that game as a 15 year old.

[@purwantiallan5089]

Same despite the player cannot lose wheels in F1 1995 PS1.

[@marcianodemidof7135]

Oh man me and my buddy played that game on 100%. We linked two PlayStations together on two tv's. Hooked up two steeringnwheels from Madcats (remember that one? Shitiest steeringnwheel ever but fun as hell to play with) with pedals (or was that on RidgeRacer🤔 i don't remember to be honest) and get this, bought two real car seats coming out of an old Ford Escort. And at raceday a couple of hours before the real thing (F1) started, we played that game, racing on the track corresponding with the race on tv. First the quali and after that the race. Even considering the weather in real life. When they predicted rain, we also drove with rainy conditions. It was awesome. And believe it or not, i still have that game. But unfortunately no Playstation. That sucker died on me a long time ago. Man, gaming in the 90's was awesome. Miss those days.

[@CptJET-he8nc]

I agree

[@jordanprice9285]

Get another playstation bo!

[@purwantiallan5089]

​@@jordanprice9285i still got one on my PlayStation 3 btw.

[@Miatayo]

One one the craziest thing was the presence of tobacco brands logos and alcohols brands name in the game!

[@bubbabenali]

Back then game magazines had at least one big tabaco ad

[@TobiaTesan]

Entirely normal at the time.

[@EmpanadaDeCaca]

tobacco and alcohol brand seem censored

[@sloppynyuszi]

MMenteg that’s how I remember it. I remember the Fosters text was replaced with blocks

[@dickief1]

Sloppy Toons All advertising was in the game on the initial release.

[@avflashback8913]

This game has the best presentation of any F1 game. At the time it was like watching a race on Grandstand on Sunday afternoon. I couldn't believe it. For me, This game is better than F1 '97. A true classic.

[@Carlos-bo3ue]

Best presentation is F1 2005 from Ps2

[@sullivangate]

My favorite thing in this game was taking the backmarker teams and fighting for points positions if I was able to drive my brains out. This game doesn't have the flash and flair of a Mario Kart or an F-Zero game, but for 1996 it was a real technical marvel. Plus it's success got us Formula One 97 which is a better game.

[@purwantiallan5089]

By a lot since it also has very advanced damage model. Even rear wing damage in F1 1995 PS1 still functional properly unlike F1 22 to 24.

[@bluemoon95]

I got this game when it came out in 1996 & still got this game. Sometimes from time to time I still play the game.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

This game got me into Formula 1, I loved racing in Monaco on the game and the same weekend I rented the game from Blockbuster, I happened across qualifying for the Monaco GP on ESPN. I couldn't believe it was a real track in the world. I was hooked after that! I have been a fan since and of course a Schumacher fan because he dominated that 97 Monaco GP. Also, if you want to be fast on the game using a regular controller, hold down the throttle the whole time and then press the brake to slow down while never letting off the throttle. The brake cuts the throttle and when you let off the brake, you are back on the gas instantly with no spins. My bro hated it because I would whoop him using that trick.

[@manmonkee]

I was working at a games company at the time and Psygnosis ,( because we did Saturn conversions) asked us to look at possibly converting it. It was an amazing game for the time and was pushing the PS1 far beyond what SEGA's machine could replicate. So we had to say " not possible :( "

[@Yesterzine]

For which I'm sure Sony were very grateful. I hadn't realised how much Sony hedged their bets, they actually produced some demos for the Saturn before the launch of PSX and Saturn just in case.

[@xraff2]

So you are the ultimate reason that I purchased a PSX instead of a Saturn at the end of '96! It was a very painful choice and ultimately lead by the presence of F1.. oh well, nothing to regret, a couple of years later it has been the time of Dreamcast.

[@manmonkee]

@@Yesterzine That was the weird thing, Psygnosis were owned by Sony but they hired us to convert lots of their games, It wasn't something Sony wanted them to do.

[@manmonkee]

@@xraff2 You made a wise purchase, from personal experience SEGA's machine really was awful.

[@Rzerac]

Thought it got canned 'cos the f1 license expired in' 97

[@sloppynyuszi]

This was such a jump from any other F1 game. I had Microprose gp on Dad’s computer and Virtua Racing on Mega Drive and just hearing Murray Walker throwing one liners while driving around tracks with cars that resembled the real world was amazing. This was an amazing game.

[@DavidCaudry]

Look at this ! LOOK AT THIS !!

[@megabutters9144]

*"HANG ON!"*

[@karelpipa]

there certainly was a collision there!

[@simeonegattuso]

Still have the original game. This game was absolutely brutal. In the disc itself, you can find some audios that didn't make the final game , like Ayrton Senna audios and stuff like that.

[@albonfan9144]

Maybe you can do a video about Geoff Crammond Grand Prix series, great game

[@turnpiketumbler8938]

I was only a kid when it came out but I can remember the commentary was very good. Here's an example of my gaming highlights. Walker "It's Badoer" "He's going the wrong way!!!" Brundel "you're right there Murray"

[@faisalrahim9614]

I still have this game. My brother bought it years after it came out and it was super cheap. What I love is you can pick all the drivers that drove for the team including Nigel Mansell in a McLaren.

[@ThrasherDBS]

I had a demo disc that had this game on it, and if memory serves, you could drive anyone you wanted on a race around the Nurburgring GP circuit. Didn't think much of it as a little kid, but grew to appreciate Formula 1 as I got older. Still really wish I could find an NTSC-U copy of this on Amazon or something.

[@Corvoreviews]

and it had a killer soundtrack

[@southpaw117]

...Wow. The menus, tires, and sounds of the cars triggered a strong memory reminding me that I actually played a demo of this a lot back in the late 90's.

[@davidf4723]

This game is actually what got me into racing games. In 1996 i was 7 then i seen F1 on tv and i was like whaaaaa thats a real thing. Ill never forget the commentary "he must be shedding buckets of adrenaline in that car" or "Thats a Ferrari"

[@ivanv23hr]

I just love that old race graphics. My first f1 game was F1 2002 with that race graphics. Since then i love to see race grid or time difference between drivers in that way.

[@alexthegreat7518]

I speak for everyone here. MORE LIKE THIS

[@TobiaTesan]

Except for the dark overlay...

[@Macho_Fantastico]

I remember playing this game a lot as a kid. Sometimes I'd just watch the AI race. Plus the legend Murray Walker's commentary is legendary.

[@EddieVanAidan]

Still my favourite chase-cam! Also, a couple menu music tracks were by Joe Satriani! It's the little details that make this game magic compared to the modern ones

[@5340robert]

One of the greatest games of all time, i had it when i got my playstation in 1999

[@Klimowicz21]

Got the ps1 and this game on christmas 1995. The next game i got was fifa 1996 on easter 1997. So i had for 15 months only this single game. But i loved it, and may dad an my Brother loved it. We notice all our best lap times in a book, and I still have the ps1, the game and the book :-)

[@MrReese]

I remember racing a full distance Monaco GP in this game back in the day. The graphics look ridiculous now but back then it looked so good it was crazy. Even to this day you can see that they really put a lot of effort into this, it had plenty of details, only the very low resolution is holding it back from looking good.

[@briandarcy5811]

Thanks for this vid. Brought back lots of memories of this incredible game. I got it with the PlayStation as a package! The graphics were well ahead of its time

[@AyrtonS111]

There was one F1 game which was the best for respecting the season it was inspired of: "F1 - Beyond the limit" (1993 - MegaCD/SegaCD). It even had the "1993 mode", whiich allows you to recreate some of the events of that season. Probably the best F1 game I have ever played.

[@scottnorman4334]

Constantly drove as Nigel Mansell. Brilliant.

[@markozivanovic117]

Another fact: the F1 World Grand Prix game on the N64 was far superior. With gradual tyre wear, realistic cockpit view, dynamic weather and all ;)

[@peterdaviesracing]

Up to this day, I LOVE that game. Especially the scenario mode, don't understand why nobody had that idea again. The only thing that bugs for both games on PS1 and N64: They didn't put the Lola team in the game, although the booklet of the '97 game featured them.

[@wabba67]

Never played this original one, only the sequel F1'97. That did feature the awesome cockpit view with those awkward hands.

[@Ramtamtama]

hands, tentacles, call them what you will

[@JRRacing64]

The first time I had played this game was the demo version on the volume 3 version of the playstation interactive demo disc. So much nostalgia!

[@gabrielgago6945]

Man I played the shit out of this game. I didn't even had a ps1, had to go to a rental store that also had consoles for playing paying by the hour. Worth it.

[@matthewhull3977]

You're right there Murray

[@paranormalskeptic3893]

Loved the game, and remembered hearing the name Schumacher a million times, the pronunciation by the announcer. I still, to this day, yell “Schumacher !” When I see or hear the name.

[@dickief1]

The game that got me watching F1 religiously, paving the way for my career. I owe it massively. Thank you Psygnosis !

[@512Sonny]

This is a crazy fun game! I'm just starting to play it again after 20-odd years

[@mymoviefilms]

Memories...that Murray Walker commentary. Awesome.

[@kinglui1st]

In this game was a lava mode as well. It looked quite amazing.

[@simeonegattuso]

Yes and motorcycles.

[@DimZ_F1]

Still play this game to this day. Would play F1 '97 too, but i've melted all 3 of my copies...

[@jenko109]

Spent so much of my time on this game

[@thereal_bio]

The face that a 1996 game has the tv graphics, but a 2019 game dose not is frustrating

[@quietbatperson]

Except f1 2019 does lol

[@FloosWorld_AoE]

F1 2019 uses the TV graphics.

[@purwantiallan5089]

Formula 1 1995 even in 2024 still can do everything better than F1 24.

[@juliorosa2846]

Plsyed this game demo on a friends house... Had a Saturn back there and I bought a ps1 and the f1 97 because was more recent back there... Was amazing.

[@EaglePlay]

I still play this game and I like to do a season at the hard difficulty level with Berger

[@scullystie4389]

I had this on a demo disk that came with my Playstaton

[@markhollingsworth2881]

30 facts but doesnt mention THAT soundtrack..

[@Trendyflute]

Not sure if this game was ported to PC or I'm thinking of something else, but I definitely remember going to a house of one of my parents' co-workers as a kid in 1996-97ish time, and they had an F1 game on their PC with a steering wheel and my mind was basically blown. "You can hook up a steering wheel to a computer and DRIVE!? SIGN ME UP!"

[@nattila7713]

it was and this and quake I admired on a voodoo + a viewsonic pt775 on a computer show/event back then :)

[@Blackout201_]

Amazing how the first ever F1 game still has more love and detail in it than Codemasters games.

[@Blackout201_]

i fristly saw it in rFactor F1 mods. Some of them had every single aero change (like the double wing here) and every single livery change that was used over the season. I thought "okay it´s from fans so the add so much detail in it" but to see it was the same in the very first game just amazes me. And I just think if it was possible back then, then it surely is possible now. Other examples are real life trophies (like F1 2006), that there is a crane that lifts you away if you stop (like F1 1997 i belive), laser scanned tracks (which should be possible by now judging on how close they seemingly work with F1 these days), back to paddock changes like in 2016. Deatils like that. Something which truly shows: The guys who made that game are true F1 fans. I got that feeling for F1 2010 when it comes from codemasters but never again. And the fact that lee mather claims they are every year but you don´t feel it while playing it just makes me dislike them even more.

[@Blackout201_]

@@chld9078 or in codmeasters case (as i know we barely have such rapid changes during a season these days) what I´d love to see is paddock changes that come with location changes (like 2016), real life trophies (both on the podium and in the trophy room), a better trophy room (like 2006), more animations (like 5 to 6 podium animations would be a good start, different championship winning animations, idk new animations for retireing like the driver standing on the side of the track), bring back that commentators react on previous races (like 2015), possible pit stop fails in career mode. stuff like that. I know it doesnt make a difference in gameplay but im a huge sucker for that and i love deatils like that. and as they have a solid base with f1 2019 it´s time to implement that stuff even more in my opinion.

[@alanrocky182]

Luv it loads, what a game. It was one of the first PS1 games I'd played back then and I got bloody hooked to it straightaway. As a matter of fact, I was playing it today

[@RetroGamer128]

Still looks cool nearly 3 decades later.

[@commander98123]

One fun fact about this game the '97 sequel. This game has a lot more realistic engine sound.

[@abedfo88]

IT'S SCHIATTARELLA

[@Shimanaev]

Best game ever. I played on my channel and just started season. Subscribe to back in this days.

[@JT-ko2ib]

i like how at 1:32 it says Hakkinen's Adelaide crash was acknowledged, putting him to the back of the grid. Did he still start the race though? If so, what a comeback. To be fair to the graphics, the video needs to be played in a 14" size area of the screen, run at 144p.

[@Klimowicz21]

Furthermore you are able to listen to the rock menu music if you put the disk into a cd-player and choose directly track No. 2 or further. Track 1 was only really loud skratchy noise

[@clutchkick9169]

I found the game would glitch and create its own "Murray-isms", like praising Damon Hill in the Williams for winning in front of the Tifosi at Monza.

[@MrBreakthewalls]

My First ps1 game, racing with Barrichello. Good times

[@_UPRC]

Bizarre Creations: "Sure, we'll add tracks that aren't even part of the season." Codemasters: "We can't do that! It's takes over a year to make a single track!" (meanwhile modders just sit back and laugh at this claim)

[@Streetw1s3r]

I played the sht out of this game back in the late 90s as a 4-5 year old kid. Once an F1 fan, always an F1 fan.

[@SuikaIbuki]

better than codemasters!

[@c3gfboy7]

I’m glad I still own F1 1995 in other words this exact game. With a PS2 console

[@joebryant8500]

And what about the soundtrack...?

[@geroconnor]

It was vai-lent! That soundtrack changed my life, I would dearly love to hear more from 'Overdrive'. I've spent more than a few hours searching the web for anything to do with the musician/s involved but to no avail. I met Joe Satriani a few years ago and got him to sign the game manual for me. I had to remind him that 'Summer Song' was featured.

[@fromwithinuk]

@@geroconnor I wrote the music. What do you want to know?

[@enoughthatshoppingads6069]

RIP Murray Walker

[@davide744858]

the best game of F1 created for console ever

[@barbarosa220]

Oh I want that game so badly, I had the demo and one of my friends had the full game, gave me once and I become champion with Gerhard Berger - Ferrari!

[@Max_Snellink]

Who's old enough to remember past this to the Amiga A500 and its F1 game?

[@kingbeef5076]

Surely the pitstop bug deserves a mention. That ruined long races.

[@Donesyboy]

Rando Fact: The First one on PS1 got me into F1 🙇🏿‍♂️

[@Mandarin9900]

Does anyone know the secret for a good start? I can't seem to figure out an optimal way to launch fast. Any help?

[@GigglingChinchilla]

Imagine making a remake with higher quality graphics and better sound... That would be all we need I think...

[@sametozkan9175]

You forgot to show split screen with 2 Simtek cars after Monte Carlo with 26 car grid.

[@stefanolanfredi2898]

C è una bella differenza da i primi giochi ad arrivare adesso!

[@epiphany55]

Geoff Crammond's Grand Prix 2 was miles ahead of this poor effort, and a year prior. Though I accept that F195 was nothing more than an arcade game rather than a true simulation. I remember playing this once and thinking I might as well be playing Wipeout. Only an aesthetic F1 experience (the official graphics and 95 teams, liveries, Murray Walker etc. a lot of $$$ spent on licencing). But not the real deal.

[@CptJET-he8nc]

Grand Prix Behind the wheel. Everyday. For many hours. I still keep my results on sheets of paper :D

[@zamoraal9130]

4:00 I wish they did that for this year game

[@yonaunega9448]

Agreed

[@Micro296]

virtua raicing was the first formula type of game though as far as i can remember for megadrive

[@wahmeister666]

Had it, all I have now is the booklet. No idea where my PS1 itself went either😂

[@robnorish6515]

I’m 30 still hot my ps1 now 24 years later and have this game , unfortunately I need an older tv as it looks horrible on a 4ktv. These were the days tho !!

[@tzeffsmainchannel]

I loved that game But hated the blind AI! It's rock music is also timeless! And the visuals of the 3DFX version is breath-taking; no pixels in sight...unlike a certain video we all know! :P

[@Housestationlive]

for a long while we don t had any official game. so somes seasons are not covered or covered with uninteresting games. like human gp 3 and 4 only released in japan. you have to wait 2019 to have again official fonts and fia graphics included in a f1 game.

[@onearmedman9042]

Beyond the limit was a great f1 game on Sega CD. If I recall it was the 93 season. That was a great game

[@welshfinn1]

nostalgia and rose-tinted glasses are clouding your memory, it was a terrible game! shocking frame-rate and poor control, even for the time

[@onearmedman9042]

@@welshfinn1 well, that's like your opinion, man. Am I cursed or blessed with nostalgia? I say blessed, that game is what got me watching F1 every race. For quite a long time. Before that I'd watch Monaco and Montreal every year. That was about it. I was obsessed for 15 years or so. Now I'm happy seeing the quality races and highlights of the others. Cheers

[@welshfinn1]

@@onearmedman9042 that's good, and it's true that the game was excellently presented - the intro being quite something. Let's be fair, my opinion is worth nothing - it is only an opinion. The game was slated by the press, and F1GP, the first Geoff Crammond game, had been out for some time. If you enjoy the game it really doesn't matter what I think. Good on you for being pleasant about it, that's rare

[@onearmedman9042]

@@welshfinn1 Hey man, dont get down on yourself. You are entitled to your opinion. I take it into consideration. If we were all the same in this world, it'd be quite boring. And you know what, yeah it had its blemishes for sure and can see folks not liking it. Yes, I do get nostalgic to it. You are correct. Especially since Senna passed that year i always played it and always praised him with his Monaco dominance from the races I've seen on television. Dont get me wrong, I like Prost as well. Anyways, racing is all fun! I will listen to opinions when it's not mean hearted. Thanks for not being one of these trolls out here. That really bugs me. Cheers from Alaska

[@roundpaddy]

My first favourite game!!

[@LeeePowers]

Reason I bought a pS1 in the first place in 1996.

[@macket]

Played the hole season over a weekend with no memorycard, just dont switch off the console.. :)

[@OnkelSato]

I loved this game.

[@BaleBose]

This was an awesome game. Did time trialing on Adelaide GP to death.

[@magnussencube]

BjornBorgsUndies on GT LAB my fastest lap there is a 1:20.865 or something

[@BaleBose]

aleks gamer I’ll try and dig up my old times.

[@dancemusic0]

Even if you just let AI race each other (especially in Australia where you pit your Benetton in awkward angle and came out on track hitting barriers instead of pit lane effectively AI taking control of your car for rest of the race) it's unpredictable who wins.

[@davidlawrence6119]

My video games have come SO FAR in 25 years

[@Ramtamtama]

do F1 97 next!

[@11vag]

90% of this video is just looking at menus. Great job mates...

[@apaansih2863]

Funny things i am confused between mark blundell and martin brundle

[@tokenride04]

Were the tracks laser scanned?

[@magnussencube]

tokenride04 oh no

[@sametozkan9175]

Magnussen should replace Häkkinen again in Adelaide 1995.

[@FloosWorld_AoE]

Next: Grand Prix 2 on PC

[@diogopinto9462]

My grandma played this game . she's told me the stories

[@Dannzt]

Imagine a remake

[@Yesterzine]

It's a real shame games these days can't do driver changes. Livery changes would be wonderful too where they're not for prohibited products.

[@quietbatperson]

F1 2019 has driver changes So much ignorance in these comments