Codemasters and Sumo put up a valiant effort, but even they can't take more than the Wii gives them, and the Wii simply doesn't provide them enough to work with.
Codemasters can finally please all the Formula One-fans with a new game. It doesn’t disappoint, but doesn’t wow either. Real fans will have plenty to do with all the official tracks and cars. Someone looking for a simple racing experience will not entirely be satisfied. You can do a quick race, but a championship will be one of the long haul, requiring plenty of time per race.
Delicious handling and a palpable sense of speed combine to make a game that's unique on the Wii, and while there's a feeling of an opportunity missed with the licence, for fans of the sport deprived of an F1 game for so many years this does just enough to satiate the thirst.
It's a fun game, with an impressive sense of speed and the official license fans want, but there's undoubtedly something better coming next year, on platforms that can do the sport justice. This is a perfectly competent racer, one of the best on the Wii, but it's not a classic by any stretch of the imagination.
If you put aside Mario Kart, there's not that many good racing games available on Wii. Unfortunately the Formula 1 debut doesn't change the balance. The game is not for the simulator freaks, but it doesn't serve casual gamers either. On top of that the game is ugly as hell. Hopefully the next version is a bit more ambitious. [Jan 2010]
With the right combination of driving aids on, the game is actually playable for anyone with an interest in driving around in non-ovals, but there just isn't anything here to get in a tizzy about. It's not gorgeous, it's not deep (even Career mode isn't), and it's not anything you haven't played before. And while that might not say much for what's actually here, it isn't the worst thing either system has to offer.
Summary(Also known as "Formula One 2009") F1 2009 offers a fully authentic FIA Formula One championship experience with all the teams, drivers, cars and tracks from the 2009 season.