The cars all seem dull and boxy looking. The cockpit detail is above average with animated driver arms and steering wheel and even functional rearview mirrors. Track detail and scenery are excellent. The track is bordered by all the usually sponsor logos and the occasional patch of foliage. Grandstands are full of cheering and animated fans and each of the world locations is accurately reproduced with the appropriate cityscape or landscape details for that area.
Special effects seem to be hit or miss.
Your car leaves skid marks on and off the track and your tires smoke around the turns. They pick up sand, grass, and dirt when you leave the track then slowly fling themselves clean when you get back on the pavement. But there are some very obvious omissions. During the wet races there is an absence of spray coming off the cars ahead of you - even the Playstation F1 Grand Prix game from 3 years ago had this detail. The fog doesn't seem to be as transparent as it should.