How to Play F1 23 on Mac (Best Options Compared)
- Sven Frese
- Games
- September 16, 2024
F1 23 delivers thrilling Formula 1 racing with improved physics and the full official F1 calendar. Codemasters never released a Mac version, and unfortunately, F1 23 is also one of the trickier titles to get running through compatibility layers. Here’s what your options look like.
Mac users have three options: CrossOver (a compatibility layer that runs Windows games directly on your Mac), Whisky (a free alternative to CrossOver), or CloudDeck (cloud gaming that streams the game from a remote PC). Here’s how they compare for F1 23.
Option 1: CrossOver
CrossOver is a compatibility layer that lets you run Windows games directly on your Mac—no Boot Camp, no Windows license, no virtual machine. It translates Windows commands to macOS in real-time, so games run natively on your hardware.
How does F1 23 perform?
Honestly, not great. F1 23 has a troubled history with CrossOver. CodeWeavers’ own compatibility page lists it as “installs but does not run,” and community reports are mixed. Some users report black screens on launch, while others have managed to get the earlier F1 22 running but not F1 23 specifically. The EA anti-tamper/DRM layer has been a persistent problem—though some reports suggest this was removed in later updates, which may improve compatibility.
Quick reference:
- ⚠️ M4 Pro / M4 Max — May launch with recent CrossOver versions, but unstable
- ❌ Most Apple Silicon Macs — Known launch issues (black screen, crashes)
- ❌ Intel Macs — Not viable
How to get started (if you want to try):
- Download CrossOver ($74/year, 14-day free trial)
- Install Steam through CrossOver
- Purchase and install F1 23
- Check the CodeWeavers compatibility page for latest status
Tips: F1 22 has better CrossOver compatibility if you’re flexible on which F1 game to play. Use the 14-day free trial to test before committing.
Option 2: Whisky (Free Alternative)
If you’d rather not pay for CrossOver, Whisky offers similar functionality for free. It’s built on the same Wine technology that powers CrossOver, but it’s open-source and community-maintained.
Performance: The same compatibility issues that affect CrossOver apply to Whisky—the underlying technology is the same. F1 23 is unlikely to work reliably through Whisky either.
The trade-off: Given that F1 23 struggles even on CrossOver, Whisky’s more manual setup makes it even less likely to work smoothly. We’d recommend the CrossOver free trial first to test compatibility, or jump straight to CloudDeck.
How to get started:
- Download Whisky (free)
- Create a new “bottle” (Whisky’s term for a Windows environment)
- Install Steam inside the bottle
- Install F1 23 through Steam
- Troubleshoot as needed (check the Whisky Discord for help)
Option 3: CloudDeck (Cloud Gaming)
Since CrossOver and Whisky are unreliable for F1 23, CloudDeck is the most dependable way to play this game on a Mac.
Instead of running the game on your Mac, CloudDeck runs it on our high-performance servers and streams the video to your screen. Your Mac just needs to display the stream, so even an 8GB MacBook Air works perfectly.
Performance: 60 FPS at 1080p, High settings (runs on our cloud servers).
Best for:
- Anyone who wants F1 23 to actually work on their Mac
- Racing wheel and controller users (CloudDeck supports USB peripherals)
- Players who don’t want to gamble on CrossOver compatibility
Requirements: Any Mac and a stable internet connection (15+ Mbps recommended).
How to get started:
- Sign up for CloudDeck ($19.99/month, cancel anytime)
- Connect using Moonlight or your browser
- Install F1 23 from your Steam library
- Play immediately—no compatibility tweaks needed
Which Option Should You Choose?
| Your Situation | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Want to try local play (may not work) | CrossOver (use free trial) |
| Tech-savvy, prefer free solutions | Whisky |
| Want it to actually work, any Mac | CloudDeck |
FAQ
Why isn’t there a Mac version?
Codemasters/EA have never released their F1 games on Mac. The game uses DirectX and Codemasters’ EGO engine, which isn’t ported to macOS.
Does F1 22 work better on CrossOver?
Yes—F1 22 has better reported compatibility with CrossOver than F1 23. If you’re flexible on which title to play and want local performance, F1 22 may be the better bet.
Can I use a racing wheel?
With CloudDeck, yes—USB peripherals are supported. Through CrossOver/Whisky, controller support can be hit-or-miss depending on the specific hardware.
Last updated: April 2026.
