F1 2017 - 1988 McLaren MP4/4 Classic Car (DLC)

Let's be straight about what this is. This DLC is a single car unlock for F1 2017. No new tracks, no new modes, no extra campaign chapters. You buy this, and the 1988 McLaren MP4/4 drops into your garage, available across Grand Prix mode, Time Trial, and the career's classic invitational events. That's the whole pitch. Now, does that car earn its keep? Genuinely, yes. The MP4/4 is widely considered one of the most dominant machines in Formula 1 history, and Codemasters did the legwork to make it feel distinct from the 2017-spec cars. Where the modern grid cars lean on massive downforce and wide tyres, the MP4/4 is lighter, twitchier, and demands a different throttle discipline coming out of corners. Reviewers at the time consistently flagged that the classic cars felt "noticeably different" from the modern machines, which is exactly what you want. It is not just a re-skin. The handling model holds up. With a wheel and decent force feedback, the vintage character of the car comes through clearly. Gamepad players will still have a good time, but this is one of those cars that rewards proper hardware. Where the value proposition gets complicated is context. The MP4/4 was originally bundled with the F1 2017 Special Edition as a pre-order incentive, so anyone who picked up the base game at launch for full price already owns it. If you skipped the Special Edition and bought the standard version later, this DLC fills that gap. The base game's classic car roster already includes other McLarens spanning 1991, 1998, and 2008, so the MP4/4 completes that particular four-car McLaren lineup. For McLaren obsessives or Senna fans wanting the full set, that context matters. The broader F1 2017 package, which you obviously need to already own, was well-received at the time. The career mode runs ten seasons deep, the Championships mode strips out the management complexity for players who just want racing, and the classic invitational events inside career mode give these historic cars a purpose beyond hot-lapping in Time Trial. One critique worth noting: some reviewers felt the classic car invitationals did not vary the gameplay enough to justify their billing as a headline feature. Sprint events and hot lap challenges exist, but proper multi-round classic championships with the older cars are thin. If you were hoping to build a whole season around the MP4/4, the base game does not quite support that fantasy. Bottom line for who this is for: hardcore F1 2017 players, McLaren fans, anyone who wants the complete classic car collection ticked off, or Senna devotees who will absolutely load up Monaco just to hear that turbocharged 1.5-litre Honda unit howl through the tunnel. Casual players or people who already have the Special Edition can skip it entirely.

Riley · Scout Team

Sports & racing

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