F1 24 is surprisingly friendly to a busy schedule, as long as you plan around its event structure. A typical 25%‑distance race lasts about 20–30 minutes, with qualifying or practice adding another short block if you include them. That makes “one race” or “one full weekend” a very realistic evening goal for someone with an hour or so to spare. The game autosaves between sessions, and offline modes can be paused instantly, so family interruptions are rarely catastrophic beyond repeating a race. You’ll likely feel you’ve fully experienced what the game offers after a season or two plus some time in F1 World, usually in the 20–40 hour range. Coming back after a break is straightforward, thanks to clear standings and objectives, though your driving skills may feel rusty. Online play and longer race distances demand bigger chunks of uninterrupted time, but they’re optional. Overall, the game asks for regular, focused sessions rather than marathon grinds to stay satisfying.

Playing F1 24 means locking in when you’re on track. During races you’re constantly judging braking points, watching rivals, tracking flags, and glancing at HUD elements for tyre, fuel, and energy information. There are few truly “quiet” corners, so you can’t comfortably check your phone or watch a show in the background. Between events the game eases off: reading emails, spending development points, or adjusting strategy is much more relaxed and can be done at a gentler pace. Overall, a typical session alternates between intense, laser‑focused driving segments and calmer planning interludes in the paddock hub. If you sit down tired after a long day, expect the driving portions to demand one last burst of mental energy. If you enjoy that kind of total absorption, the game repays you with strong flow states where 20 minutes of laps can pass in what feels like five.

F1 24 has a real learning curve, but it’s a rewarding one. With assists turned on, you can get around the track quickly, yet actually driving clean, consistent laps, managing tyres, and planning safe overtakes takes several evenings of practice. Each track has its own rhythm and quirks to internalize. The good news is that improvement is very visible: you watch lap times drop, start catching rivals you used to fear, and slowly bump AI difficulty upward as you outgrow old settings. Over time you may begin dialing back assists, taking on more of the car’s behavior yourself, which deepens the sense of ownership over your performance. The game doesn’t require you to become a no‑assist expert to have fun, but if you enjoy self‑improvement, there’s a huge ceiling to climb. This balance makes it ideal for adults who like seeing skills build across weeks, not just watching gear scores rise.

F1 24 serves up a lively level of tension. Wheel‑to‑wheel battles, last‑lap duels, and surprise safety cars all spike your adrenaline, especially when a single mistake can drop you from podium to midfield. However, the game gives you many tools to keep that pressure healthy rather than punishing. Flashbacks let you undo a disastrous crash, restarts are always available in offline play, and AI sliders plus driving assists ensure you can find a comfort zone where you’re challenged but not crushed. Compared to horror games or brutally hard action titles, the stress here is more like playing competitive sports: your heart rate rises during key moments, then quickly settles once the chequered flag falls. Online races without pause and with social pressure can feel harsher, but you can choose how often to engage with them. Overall, F1 24 is exciting and occasionally nerve‑wracking, but it rarely feels emotionally draining unless you deliberately crank the difficulty and turn off safety nets.