F1 25 is free this weekend. On Steam and Xbox, from Thursday through Monday, at no cost. And it’s not a stripped-down version: you get the game as it stands in September 2026, including the full season. EA and Codemasters are offering free access tothe 2026 Season Edition for four days, right after the 1.25 update that just added new content.

Free through Monday—two times to keep in mind

There are two time frames, depending on whether you’re playing on PC or console. On Steam, access is available from Thursday, September 10, at 7:00 p.m. to Monday, September 14, at 7:00 p.m., Paris time. On Xbox Series X|S, the window is longer: starting Thursday, September 10, at midnight, and running through Monday, September 14, at 10:00 p.m. That’s it—these two platforms and no others.

One reassuring thing before you get started: your progress is saved. You install the game, launch Breakpoint mode, start a Career or a season in My Team, play through two or three Grand Prix races, and if you buy the game afterward, nothing is lost. In other words, this isn’t a limited demo but the full game, available for a four-day trial. All you need is an EA account and an internet connection.

Try out the entire F2 2026 and MADRING

That’s where Update 1.25, released on September 7, changes everything. The entire 2026 FIA Formula 2 Championship is now available: the cars, the drivers, the teams, and the full calendar. It’s playable in Grand Prix, Time Trial, multiplayer, split-screen, and LAN modes. A useful tip for Career mode players: completing an F2 season now grants a Recognition bonus to help you tackle F1.

The rest of the grid follows the real-life season. A Sports update refreshes the liveries and sponsors for eight teams—including Ferrari’s “Macarena” rear wing—and updates several team principals. As a bonus, seven special liveries are arriving for free via in-game mail in three waves through September 16. So we’re giving the 2026 era a try in its most up-to-date version: the season’s rules, the Audi and Cadillac teams, Overtake Mode, and the MADRING street circuit.

It’s the perfect opportunity to plug in your own steering wheel

For sim racing enthusiasts, the trial version offers an added benefit: the chance to test F1 25 on your own hardware without buying the game. Version 1.25 has expanded peripheral support—with the SIMAGIC ecosystem at the forefront—and fixed issues with multi-brand configurations. There’s nothing special to install: just plug it in, launch the game, and see how it performs on your own setup.

The free weekend ends on Monday, September 14, at 7:00 p.m. on Steam and 10:00 p.m. on Xbox. For players still on an older version, this is the perfect opportunity to see where the game stands in 2026 before making a decision. That leaves the only real question: will these four days be enough to keep you on the grid?