F1 2018 features substantial revisions to its "Career Mode" compared to previous systems. F1 2017 introduced a detailed progression system that allowed the player to focus on developing the engine, chassis and aerodynamics of their car. This was simplified in F1 2018 as Codemasters' research demonstrated that players were losing interest in the game before completing the car's development cycle. Players develop their cars by spending "development points", which are earned by meeting research and development targets during free practice sessions. Codemasters have introduced a wider range of free practice programs to the game in a bid to extend the game's longevity. At the halfway point of each championship, the player has the option of ending their development cycle and banking all future development points for the next championship. This function has a renewed importance in F1 2018 as teams are subject to rule changes at the end of each championship which can potentially compromise the car's performance. As with previous titles, F1 2018 includes "Classic Cars", these being Formula One cars from previous seasons. The game includes much older cars dating back to the 1970s, such as the 1972 Lotus 72D, which took Emerson Fittipaldi to his first world championship, the McLaren M23 and the Ferrari 312T, which were driven by James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the championship; The special edition includes the Brawn BGP 001, the car which Jenson Button and Brawn GP won the World Drivers' and World Constructors' Championships; and the Williams FW25, the car with which Juan Pablo Montoya finished third in the 2003 championship. All of the Classic Cars that were featured in F1 2017 are included in F1 2018. As the game is based on the 2018 championship, the Circuit Paul Ricard made its debut in the series. The Hockenheimring, which was last featured in F1 2016, made its return to the game. The game also features an online multiplayer mode. There are different leagues that require the player to get an obligatory number of trophies to reach. The player can win or lose trophies depending on their performances on these online races. Actions such as cutting corners or colliding with other cars have a negative effect on the player's "Safety Rating". This rates players based on their overall cleanliness in a similar way to the Super License system for real Formula 1 drivers.
F1 2018 was the bestselling game in the United Kingdom during its first week on sale. In Japan, the PlayStation 4 version sold 5,517 copies during its first week of release. It was also the bestselling physical retail game across Europe, the Middle East and Africa throughout the week beginning August 26 2018, and the second-best selling digital game throughout the same week.
