The game's Career Mode received substantial revisions compared to its predecessor. F1 2017 had introduced a detailed progression system for developing a car's engine, chassis, and aerodynamics, but Codemasters simplified this in F1 2018 after research showed players were losing interest before completing the full development cycle.
Players advance their cars by spending development points earned through free practice session programs. Codemasters expanded the range of available free practice programs to extend the game's longevity. At the season midpoint, players can end their development cycle and bank remaining points for the next championship — a function with added importance because teams are subject to rule changes between championships that can affect car performance.
The game includes classic Formula One cars spanning back to the 1970s. Notable vehicles include the 1972 Lotus 72D that took Emerson Fittipaldi to his first world championship, the McLaren M23 and Ferrari 312T associated with the 1976 championship battle between James Hunt and Niki Lauda, and the Brawn BGP 001 with which Jenson Button won the 2009 championship. The Williams FW25 driven by Juan Pablo Montoya in 2003 also features. All classic cars from F1 2017 carry over into F1 2018.
Because the game reflects the 2018 championship, Circuit Paul Ricard makes its series debut following the return of the French Grand Prix to the calendar for the first time since 2008. The Hockenheimring returns after its absence from F1 2016. In keeping with 2018 technical regulations, the halo cockpit protection device appears on all cars for the first time in the game series. Formula One's official theme, composed by Brian Tyler, also makes its debut in the franchise within the game's intro cinematic and pre- and post-race sequences.
An online multiplayer mode features league structures requiring players to accumulate trophies to advance through tiers. A Safety Rating system tracks driving cleanliness, penalizing players for corner-cutting and contact with other cars, in a manner analogous to the real-world FIA Super Licence framework.
Following criticism of the elimination qualifying format trialled in early 2016, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and Liberty Media expressed interest in using gaming to test potential race formats. This initiative, the Formula One eSports Series, debuted alongside F1 2017 and continued through F1 2018 as the official platform for organized competitive play.
F1 2018 was the bestselling game in the United Kingdom in its first week on sale, and topped physical retail charts across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa during the week of 26 August 2018. It also ranked as the second-best selling digital game in that same period. The PlayStation 4 version sold 5,517 copies during its debut week in Japan. Critics generally received the game positively.
Williams' Martini sponsorship livery had its red color replaced with blue stripes, reflecting alcohol advertising restrictions applied across the Codemasters F1 series.