[Flawless]

IGN UK: Hands-on

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Get behind the wheel – in this particular case the Xbox 360's official steering wheel – and F1 2010 comes good on its maker's intentions. The disappointingly featherweight handling of GRID's single seaters is thankfully a distant memory – due in part to that game's handling model being built around the hulking tin-tops that were its cover stars, but largely an indicator that F1 2010's driving shows a shift in philosophy from Codemasters' recent racers. Cars have weight and purpose, feeling quick and responsive but enough of a handful to make attacking a corner a heart-quickening affair. There's enough feedback through the steering to make it instinctive and powering out of Monza's Variante Ascari is a delicious exercise in controlling oversteer with a feathering of the throttle, an art that's essential in staying on track when the clouds open. Indeed, wet weather racing is one of the areas where F1 2010 is showing how it's going to deliver more than the basics. "It's integral to F1," says Paul. "Whereas something like Forza might be able to get away with not having wet weather – although it's a shame that it's not in there – it's a huge part of the sport." F1 2010's not claiming to be the first game to deliver wet weather racing but it's got a fair claim to being the first game in some time to do it right. When a shower commences the track surface will slowly begin to lose grip, with some areas becoming more affected by others. Overhanging trees, for example, will shelter the track, while dips and indentations in the tarmac will hold more standing water and provide a greater risk. If the shower ceases, a drying line that provides more grip will visibly begin to appear. It's an impressive effect in itself – follow a car closely in wet conditions and beneath the rooster of spray it's possible to see the water being displaced. Evolving track conditions aren't limited to wet weather conditions either. True to the sport, when arriving on a Friday the track will be 'green' – a situation wherein no rubber has been laid down on the track by the cars, resulting in less grip. Over the course of the weekend the conditions will change as rubber builds up on the racing line, while off of it marbles of rubber form causing treacherous conditions for anyone who veers off course. The evolving track is something that's a core part of the sport itself but rarely does it feature in racing games of any description and its inclusion in F1 2010 is heartneing.

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