Automobilista 2 revives Formula 1’s golden era with historic June 2026 update

New update brings legendary Renault F1 cars, including Fernando Alonso’s championship-winning R25 and R26, as well as V10 and V8 categories that defined 2000s motorsport.

Reiza Studios announced this week one of the most anticipated updates for Automobilista 2, the racing simulator that has been standing out on the world stage. Version v1.6.9.8, scheduled for release in June 2026, brings a robust content package focused on the nostalgia of the 2000s, a period considered by many as the golden era of modern Formula 1.

Renault F1 arrives in full force in Automobilista 2

The highlight of the update is the licensing agreement with Renault, which allows the inclusion of some of the most iconic cars in the category’s recent history. Players will be able to drive the R25 and R26, winners of the 2005 and 2006 world championships in the hands of Fernando Alonso, as well as the R28, a race winner in 2008.

But the news doesn’t stop there. The Brazilian developer stated that the Renault cars will have worthy rivals, recreating the epic battles that marked that decade on the F1 grid.

Four new Formula categories revive the 2000s

The update continues the 2000s motorsport nostalgia tour that began in late 2025 with the popular 2005 Endurance Pack. Now, the focus is on formula cars, with four entirely new classes in Automobilista 2:

Formula V10 Gen2
Represents the season where electronic aids such as traction control, launch control, and automatic gearbox were reintroduced to F1, combined with increased grip provided by the tire war between manufacturers.

Formula V10 Gen3
Revives the last season of the glorious V10 engines, marked by Fernando Alonso and Renault’s first title win against the fast, yet unreliable, McLaren-Mercedes of Kimi Räikkönen.

Formula V8 Gen1
The first year of the V8 era, with still-unrestricted engines that reached an impressive 20,000 RPM. Despite the power reduction compared to the V10s, the cars were even faster through corners thanks to advanced aerodynamics and the tire war in its final stages.

Formula V8 Gen2
Represents one of the last seasons of the refueling era and the last with the controversial grooved tires. Marked by the introduction of standardized ECUs and a 19,000 RPM limit, it was the peak of aerodynamic development with cars full of appendages and deflectors.

Historic tracks complete the time travel

For complete authenticity of the era, the update includes the Historic Track Pack Part 4, with accurate layouts of legendary circuits:

• Barcelona 1999 and 2001
• Imola 2005
• Indianapolis 2001 (with road course and oval)
• Spielberg 2001
• Monza 2005 (available via the Premium Track Pack)

Authentic rules and Parc Fermé

Reiza Studios spared no effort to recreate the complete experience of the era. The update introduces limited setup options with support for Parc Fermé rules, which lock various car configurations from the first qualifying session to the race.

New qualifying rules have also been added, covering both the 12-lap limit in effect between 1993 and 2002, as well as the single-lap (shootout) system used from 2003 to 2005.

Smarter and more strategic AI

Version 1.6.9.8 brings significant improvements to artificial intelligence, especially in pit stop strategies. The AI now automatically calculates the best refueling strategy considering:

• Race duration
• Fuel consumption
• Time loss per lap with a full fuel tank
• Pit stop time penalty

This results in much more competitive and realistic races, especially in longer events (40% distance or more), where strategy becomes crucial.

Why do the 2000s fascinate racing fans?

The update arrives at a time of growing nostalgia for 2000s motorsport. The era is remembered as the peak of cornering performance in F1, with small, light cars full of aerodynamic devices capable of changing direction with a touch of the steering wheel and braking later than ever.

With refueling still permitted, drivers were forced to push to the limit throughout the entire race, placing pure, consistent speed above all else. It was an era when teams and manufacturers invested heavily in the pursuit of technical superiority, combustion engines roared loudly, and regulations rewarded those who could stay fastest for the longest.

Release and availability

Although Reiza Studios faced some licensing-related delays, the developer confirms that the v1.6.9.8 update is in its final development stage and should be released within the first half of June 2026.

Even better: the team is already working on a subsequent update that should also arrive before the end of June, meaning Automobilista 2 players can expect two major updates within a few weeks.