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Tips and tricks to beat the best in F1 2017
The new racing sim hits the shops this week and we've been speaking to the developers to find out how to be the best. Read on for the top tips that can help you make the podium.
There are only four more days to wait before you can jump behind the wheel of the much-anticipated F1 2017, and it looks like Codemasters' new blockbuster will set the standard for racing sims. You may already be an expert at F1 2016, but the latest version introduces new (and much older) cars, tracks and challenges, and there's a lot to master if you want to be the best.
With that in mind, we've been talking to F1 2017 designer Steven Embling to get the lowdown on all the tricks required if you want to finish in pole position. Sure, you'll need a bit of natural talent, but if you follow Embling's advice you can definitely look forward to finishing at the sharp end of the grid.
It's a particularly unpredictable season this year, so which car is naturally the quickest in F1 2017?
This year we're fortunate to have two very evenly matched cars at sharp end of the grid. The Ferrari has a slight advantage in downforce and its shorter wheelbase makes it more agile into tight turns, but it suffers a straight line deficit compared to the Mercedes, which has an advantage in terms of outright power. Although the differences are not drastic, it makes for some fantastically close racing, as it has done in real life, and I look forward to seeing which ones players prefer to use in Time Trial mode to set the most competitive times.
In Career Mode we feature an all new in depth Research and Development system where there's plenty of opportunity for the pecking order to evolve as the game progresses.
What's the most user-friendly car for beginners?
This is quite subjective, but for me I'd say the 2010 Red Bull RB6 is among the most user friendly of our selection. The stability of that car in particular is very impressive, with its mighty levels of downforce pushing it into the track with such authority. The power delivery is especially predictable at the top end of the 18,000 rpm rev range also. I always find when I drive this car that I can brake later than I expect and carry more speed than I imagine. In many ways it feels like a car that can outperform the driver; you have to really push harder than you expect to get the most out the car, and most of the time it will happily take it.
A Toro Rosso in F1 2017
© Codemasters
Do you have any tips for getting to know your way around new circuits?
The Track Acclimatisation Practice Programme in Career Mode is a fantastic way for players to get to grips with a new circuit. It gives a series of gates to aim for to help learn the ideal racing line and the results screen gives a detailed assessment of apex speeds achieved. Beyond that, there's the Dynamic Racing Line assist, and of course the ability to download rival ghosts and set ups from the leaderboards in Time Trial mode.
How should drivers get the most out of their cars in more challenging conditions, such as when it's raining?
The thing to remember about driving in lower grip conditions is the traits of the car become more noticeable. If the car feels lazy going into a corner or suffers from snap oversteer on the exit of a turn, these traits will be so much worse in a wet race. Knowing the car is good advice, but keeping a close eye on the weather conditions is important too, as nothing beats being on the right tyre at the right time.
Should people treat AI rivals as they would other people online or is there a different tact when it comes to beating the computer?
Normally, I'd say you can 'bully' an AI driver more than a human player, as typically in racing games the AI tends to back off in certain situations for a self preservation-type behaviour. This year however, that tactic hasn't been working so well for me. The AI drivers are more determined to hold their line at the times you'd expect a human would, so be warned. Each driver is different as well; some are more adapt with the wheel to wheel action.
What the best approach when it comes to driving classic F1 cars – do they need to be driven differently to modern F1 cars?
Our selection of classic cars cover a time period spanning 22 years, and during this time there were countless regulation changes - whether that be tyre widths, engine types, or downforce restrictions. Every time the regulations change that tends to have some effect on the way each car drives, and as a result we have numerous cars that have their own unique handling characteristics and reward different driving styles. The key is practice, practice, practice.
What's the best way to go about mastering control of a car? Presumably most people will start with the assists turned on, but is it best to turn them off one at a time?
It's about what you are comfortable with as a player. It never hurts to experiment. We have a whole host of assists, such as Traction Control, ABS, Braking Assist, Auto Gearbox, Dynamic Racing Line. There are also various damage settings to choose from, and, of course, if it does end up going wrong the trusty flashback feature is available to replay and put right those disaster moments.
Any tips for winning the championship, rather than just your favourite tracks?
Consistency is key. If you can maximise points in every race it will serve you well over the course of 20 races.
What makes the biggest changes to speed when it comes to car set up?
Downforce contributes much to the impressive lap times of a modern F1 car so getting the right compromise is important – too little and the car will struggle for grip in the corners, too much and it will suffer in straight line speed.
Another really important thing to consider is the overall balance of the car. Some tracks favour a more 'pointy' car with a sharp change of direction while others benefit from a car that's got good traction out of tight bends. Identifying the key traits of a track is vital to getting the right settings.
F1 2017 is released on August 25 for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
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