Max Verstappen was the highest-rated driver in EA Sports’ official F1 22 game. However, the Dutchman’s 2023 ratings have taken a hit despite him winning a record-setting 15 Grand Prix in the 2022 season.
The two-time world champion has received a rating of 94 from EA Sports in the latest edition of the game. His awareness and experience scores are 85 and 84 respectively, whereas his racecraft and pace have 97 and 95 next to them.
This year, Verstappen is dominating F1 once again and is on course to secure his 3rd consecutive title. This has left fans questioning the downgrade in the Red Bull driver’s ratings.
Max Verstappen receives a rating drop in the new F1 game
Max Verstappen remains the highest-rated driver in the F1 23 game despite the downgrade. He is rated higher than veterans Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, both tied for 2nd place with a rating of 92.
However, Red Bull and Verstappen fans are unimpressed with the driver’s points decrease despite his overall dominance. A fan named ‘WilcoFtbl’ could not believe the new score as he wrote, “How is that possible man?”
How is that possible man
— (@WilcoFtbl) June 12, 2023
A user ‘V3rstapp3n_Max‘ commented, “WHAT DOES HE NEED TO DO MORE!” While another user, ‘JOC__1991‘ posted, “When you’re too OP for a game so they have to turn you down.”
WHAT DOES HE NEED TO DO MORE
— Max Verstappen WDC ’23 (@V3rstapp3n_Max) June 12, 2023
When you’re too OP for a game so they have to turn you down: https://t.co/MXYCBhGUv2
— James (@JOC__1991) June 12, 2023
A user named ‘MauriceMacken’ brought in a different angle to the debate, “That will be a base card. If it’s true that EA is trying to bring in FIFA Style Ultimate Team they will upgrade it through the season to keep you spending money “
That will be a base card, if it’s true that EA is trying to bring in FIFA Style Ultimate Team they will upgrade it through the season to keep you spending money
— Maurice Macken (@MauriceMacken) June 12, 2023
Charles Leclerc suffers a drop in ratings
While Max Verstappen suffered a drop in his rating, his teammate Sergio Perez enjoyed a slight hike. In real life, however, Perez has been criticized for lacking the skill to challenge the Dutchman for the title after his poor performances in Spain and Monaco.
Meanwhile, Verstappen’s nearest rival Charles Leclerc has been downgraded from 92 to 89 in the new game. Lewis Hamilton drops from 94 to 92, while Fernando Alonso goes from 89 to 92.
charles’ F123 rating has downgraded from 92 to 89. pic.twitter.com/UpbweBLNmA
— leclerc data (@leclercdata) June 12, 2023
Fans believe Verstappen’s drop in the F1 23 ratings is partly due to his poor performances in the 2022 Singapore GP and Sao Paulo GP. However, the driver’s dominance over the rest of the season and the records he broke does not seem to justify the drop in his ratings.
However, there could be changes to the driver’s ratings which will be available in updated versions. There is also a possibility that EA Sports could monetize the game further, by keeping an upgraded version of the driver behind a paywall.
EA Sports have deployed similar tactics in their bestseller FIFA games over the years. They could use a similar strategy for F1 too. However, EA’s paywall practices have recently come under fire from fans. The Canadian company needs to be wary of not causing a similar meltdown amongst its F1 fanbase.
