This guide is designed for individuals who have recently acquired an F1 game and are unfamiliar with its mechanics. It aims to assist those who lack prior experience or understanding of how F1 operates, particularly since the game lacks a comprehensive tutorial.
Ultimate Beginners Guide For F1 24
This guide caters to individuals who purchased the game with the expectation of a straightforward racing experience involving throttle, brake, and steering controls. However, upon starting the game, they encounter numerous on-screen controls without any accompanying tutorial. It specifically targets casual gamers who prefer to dive straight into a custom game without prior knowledge. It’s important to note that this guide focuses solely on basic navigation and does not delve into advanced tips and tricks.
Tyres & Compounds
In each Grand Prix, every team receives access to two types (or compounds) of dry-weather tires. Drivers must use both compounds during the race unless it’s raining. The types are labeled as follows: “S” for soft, “M” for medium, “H” for hard, “I” for intermediate, and “W” for wet tires. The compounds range from C1 to C5, with C1 being the hardest and C5 the softest.
Softs: These tires contain the most oil, offering excellent grip and speed, but they wear out quickly. They’re marked with red.
Mediums: This type offers a balanced mix of performance and durability, making them versatile and ideal for circuits favoring high speeds. They’re marked with yellow and have a low working range.
Hards: Providing less grip but lasting longer, these tires are often used for one-stop strategies. They’re marked with white.
Intermediates: Situated between hard and full wet tires, these are for slightly wet tracks and are faster than full wets. They’re marked with green.
Full Wets: These tires feature full treads and are only for rainy or extremely wet conditions. Using them on dry tracks will cause rapid deterioration. They’re marked with blue.
Throughout the race weekend, each driver has access to 13 sets of dry-weather tires (seven ‘prime’ and six ‘option’), four sets of intermediates, and three sets of wet tires. The game automatically changes tires between sessions, so additional tire change information isn’t necessary.
Multifunction Display
Fuel Mix: During practice sessions and outlaps in qualifying, or if your qualifying lap is invalidated due to excessive cutting, you can use the lean fuel mix. However, in the race, you’re restricted to using lean only under Safety Car or Virtual Safety Car conditions; otherwise, you must use the standard mix with no choice.
This means that during practice/qualifying, you can observe your fuel consumption on the standard mix to estimate your fuel needs for the race. Underfueling is only viable if you can significantly save fuel through techniques like lift and coast, or if you enhance your fuel efficiency (exclusive to career mode), or if you’re willing to take chances on safety cars (which isn’t recommended).
Brake Bias: In most cases, adjusting brake bias isn’t necessary. However, if you experience front or rear wheel locking under braking, you should make adjustments accordingly. Typically, a bias around 59% is suitable. If your front wheels lock, decrease it to around 56-57%. If your rear wheels lock, increase it to approximately 62%. You can identify front wheel locking by observing smoke from the front wheels during braking.
Differential: For most tracks, keeping the differential around 70%-75% is recommended. Lower settings provide better traction but reduce outright grip, while higher settings offer better grip but increase the risk of losing traction. In wet conditions or on street circuits, lowering the differential to 50%-60% is advisable.
ERS (Energy Recovery System): This system enhances the car’s output by around 160 bhp by converting energy from the turbocharger (MGU-H) and brakes (MGU-K) into stored energy in batteries. This energy can be deployed as needed. Think of ERS modes similar to fuel modes, but instead of being constantly drained, they’re recharged during braking. In this season, there’s only one mode: Overtake.
The numbers next to the voltage symbol represent the deployed ERS mode. “H” indicates the amount of harvested energy, while “D” shows the deployed energy, limited to a certain level per lap. Once D is fully used, you cannot deploy any more ERS. The percentage indicates the remaining ERS available for use.
Drag Reduction System
The Drag Reduction System (DRS) is a feature aimed at reducing drag on Formula 1 cars. When a car is within 1 second of the car in front, a flap on the rear wing opens up. The rear wing typically aids in generating downforce during corners but creates drag on straights, slowing the car down. Opening the flap makes the car more aerodynamic and faster.
DRS can only be activated in specific zones marked on straights, known as DRS activation zones. These zones are indicated by DRS markers on the track, and activation occurs upon crossing the line. The distance for the activation zone is shown on the Multifunction Display (MFD) in orange numbers near the speed indicator. Activation requires manual input and deactivates automatically when exiting the zone. DRS is typically enabled after the first lap and is disabled during safety car periods.
To access DRS, a driver must be less than 1 second behind the car in front within the detection zone. If this gap is met at the detection zone, DRS will be available in the subsequent activation zone. A beep sound notifies the driver when DRS becomes available.
Formula 1 cars are finely tuned to manage airflow over the car. When closely following another car, they encounter “dirty air,” turbulent airflow that disrupts the car’s performance. This phenomenon makes overtaking challenging as the car becomes difficult to control. DRS is designed to mitigate the effects of dirty air, aiding overtaking opportunities.
Flags
Flags play a crucial role in Formula 1 racing, conveying important messages to drivers:
Yellow Flag: Indicates danger on the track, such as debris or a slow-moving car. Drivers must exercise caution in the flagged section until the green flag is displayed. Overtaking is strictly prohibited in the yellow flag zone, marked by a red circle.
Green Flag: Signals that the track is clear, allowing drivers to resume racing at full speed.
Blue Flag: Informs slower cars (backmarkers) to yield to faster cars attempting to lap them. Failure to comply may result in penalties for the slower driver.
Red Flag: Rarely seen in the game, this flag signifies a race stoppage, requiring all cars to return to the pits.
Black Flag: Raised alongside the driver’s number, this flag indicates serious misconduct on the track, resulting in disqualification from the race.
Chequered Flag: Universally recognized as the end of a session, indicating the conclusion of the race.
Car Setups in F1 2024
Car setups play a pivotal role in your performance on the track. Let’s dive into the details:
- F1 2024 Car Setups:
- Dynamic Handling: In F1 2024, finding the perfect balance between speed and feel is crucial. The setups are meticulously crafted for maximum speed, but keep in mind that adjustments might compromise speed for comfort.
- Track-Specific Setups: Each circuit demands a unique setup. Explore setups tailored for specific tracks to optimize your race, qualifying, or time trial performance.
- Dry and Wet Conditions: Adapt your car setup for dry or wet tracks. Tire management is especially critical in changing weather conditions.
- Controller or Wheel: Whether you’re using a gamepad or a wheel, there are setups designed for both.
- Adjustment Suggestions:
- Suspension: Tweak suspension settings to fine-tune handling. Experiment with different stiffness levels.
- Aerodynamics: Balance downforce and top speed. Adjust wing angles accordingly.
- Brakes: Find the right brake pressure and balance for optimal braking performance.
- Gearing: Optimize gear ratios for acceleration and top speed.
Remember, practice makes perfect! Test different setups, analyze lap times, and find what suits your driving style. Good luck out there on the virtual asphalt
Adjusting Suspension Settings
- Accessing Car Setup:
- While in the pit, press the corresponding button:
- X on Xbox
- Square on PlayStation
- Shift on PC
- Navigate to the Settings tab from the top menu.
- Select the Car Setup screen.
- While in the pit, press the corresponding button:
- Choose Your Setup:
- You have two options:
- Preset Options: These are predefined setups suitable for specific tracks. Choose one that aligns with the circuit you’re racing on.
- Custom Setup: Create your own setup by adjusting individual parameters.
- You have two options:
- Suspension Parameters:
- Front Camber: Set this value to influence corner entry. Negative values (around -2.60) enhance responsiveness.
- Rear Camber: Adjust rear camber (around -1.00) for stability during turns.
- Anti-Roll Bars: Fine-tune these bars (e.g., 6-8) to support aggressive cornering and power application post-turn.
Remember, experimentation is key! Test different setups, analyze lap times, and find what suits your driving style. Good luck mastering those corners.
Best Camber For Wet Conditions
In wet conditions, adjusting your car’s camber is crucial for maintaining grip and stability. Here are some considerations for an ideal wet setup in F1 2024:
- Front Camber:
- Negative Camber: Opt for a slightly more negative front camber (around -2.0° to -2.5°). This helps improve cornering grip by maximizing tire contact during turns.
- Balanced Approach: Balance front camber with overall stability. Too much negative camber can lead to reduced straight-line speed.
- Rear Camber:
- Keep the rear camber slightly negative (around -1.0° to -1.5°). This aids traction during acceleration out of corners.
- Avoid excessive negative rear camber, as it may cause instability.
- Tire Pressure:
- Lower tire pressure slightly to enhance grip on wet surfaces. Monitor tire temperatures during practice laps to find the sweet spot.
Tire Pressure For Wet Conditions
In wet conditions, adjusting your car’s tire pressure is essential for maintaining optimal grip and stability on the slippery track. Here’s how you can fine-tune your tire pressures in F1 2024:
- Front and Rear Tire Pressure:
- Front Tires: Lower the front tire pressure slightly to improve traction. Aim for around 23.2 psi on both the front right and front left tires.
- Rear Tires: Keep the rear tire pressure slightly lower than the front. Aim for around 21.2 psi on both the rear right and rear left tires.
- Experiment and Adapt:
- Wet conditions vary from track to track. During practice sessions, test different tire pressures and observe how your car handles.
- Adjust pressures based on your driving style and the specific wet track conditions you encounter.
Tire Pressure For Dry Conditions
In dry conditions, optimizing your tire pressure is essential for peak performance. Let’s fine-tune those tires:
- Smooth Driving:
- Maintain a smooth driving style. Gradual accelerations and braking reduce friction, keeping tire temperatures in check.
- Remember, smooth doesn’t mean slow—just avoid aggressive maneuvers.
- Best Car Setups:
- Use optimal car setups. Correct pressure, suspension, brake settings, and more enhance both performance and tire longevity.
- Explore track-specific setups for maximum efficiency.
- Avoid Lock-Ups:
- Locking up tires damages them and raises temperatures. Practice cornering without lock-ups in Time Trial mode.
- Learn each track’s braking points to avoid sudden stops.
- Track Knowledge:
- Understand the track layout. Brake earlier or accelerate gradually where needed.
- Adapt to changing conditions—dry tracks demand different approaches.
For beginners, the game handles penalties automatically, so there’s no need to worry about them initially. With a few races under your belt, you’ll naturally grasp their significance.
Enjoy the thrill of racing!
Last Updated on June 6, 2024
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