F1 2020 tips: The best tricks for the racing simulation

This article was written in cooperation with Codemasters.

In ourF1 2020 tips guide you will learn:

  • What tricks you can use to achieve faster lap times
  • Which F1 2020 tips you need to know for rain races
  • How to get off to the perfect start in the racing simulation

F1 2020 from developer Codemasters was released on July 07, 2020 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Google Stadia. This is the 13th part of the official video game for the Formula 1 and Formula 2 championships. Since the racing simulation is quite a challenge, we'll tell you the best tips and tricks for F1 2020 in our guide.

F1 2020 tips: Drive with steering wheel or gamepad?

If you want to get the most out of F1 2020 and compete successfully with other drivers in multiplayer, we recommend playing the racing simulation with a steering wheel (). This will give you a better feel and more control over your F1 car. In addition, the game looks even more realistic with a steering wheel and is significantly more fun.

However, you can also get by in F1 2020 with a high-quality gamepad - like the Xbox One Elite Controller (). It is important that you take a look at the controller settings in the options menu. Under the menu item "Calibration" you can see whether the throttle and brake reach 100 when the shoulder button is pressed down.

It often happens that you press the button all the way down and still only reach a value between 90 and 99. In this case, you'll quickly lose a second per lap and may wonder for weeks how the deficit came about. If one of the values remains below 100, set the acceleration or braking saturation up so that you don't slow yourself down before the race start.

How do you get the perfect race start in F1 2020?

Speaking of the race start, it's one of the most important race phases in F1 2020, just like in real Formula 1. Because nowhere else do you have the chance tomake up as many positions , but also to lose them, as in the first few meters. To prepare, take a look at the distance between the traffic lights and the first corner. Then make a plan for how long you will accelerate and at which point you will hit the brakes.

However, the best planning won't help if your car isn't ready. Use the warm-up lap to get your tires and brakes up to temperature by taking lots of small turns in a straight line and occasionally doing short sprints (with burnout) followed by braking maneuvers. Don't overdo it, though, so that your tires aren't unnecessarily stressed before the race even starts.

Ideally, the tire temperature should be between 89 and 92°C (C4/C5 tires) and 92 and 97°C (C1/C2/C3 tires) when you roll into your starting position. Furthermore, set both the fuel mixture and the ERS settings of your car to the lowest level on the formation lap. Only in the last corner before the start straight do you set the fuel mixture to level 3 and the ERS to level 4 (overtaking).

As soon as the traffic lights come on, press the clutch and focus on the engine revs. On a dry track, aim for an engine speed of around 12,000; on a wet track, around 9,000 rpm is the optimum. As soon as the lights go out, let up on the clutch and shift up into second and third gear early.

Remains flexible in the first few meters. If a gap opens up on the inside or outside, take advantage of it to make up a quick space or two. If no such opportunity arises, then hold your position instead of risking the health of your F1 car in the first few meters.

How do I set faster lap times in F1 2020?

If you want to achieve new best times in F1 2020, you'll have to optimize your car settings for each track. Take your time and try out different setups in free practice before the race weekend starts. If you have trouble finding the right setup, simply copy the settings of the best drivers.

Furthermore, switching off as many driving aids as possible is one of the most important F1 2020 tips of all. Most of the drivers at the top of the global time rankings don't use any driving aids. We recommend that you deactivate the assistance systems bit by bit so that you slowly develop a feeling for the race car.

First switch off the brake assistant and the ABS before you also deactivate the traction control. Once you have mastered acceleration and braking under your own power, switch off the racing line. When you have your car completely under control without driving aids, you'll be driving much faster, and it's easy to get the impression that you can't drive the track any faster.

But appearances are deceptive. Now is the time to switch to the spirit settings and turn on the rival spirit. You quickly discover that you're nowhere near the limit. Drive a few laps behind the ghosts of the best F1 2020 drivers and internalize their ideal line and braking points to save a few tenths of a second here and there.

Practice makes perfect: F1 2020 tips for training

The most important tip for F1 2020 is: practice , practice, practice! Even in real Formula 1, the pros train every day to get better. The same applies in the racing simulation. Because you won't win a race without blood, sweat and tears. Plan on several weeks or even months of training if you want to burn the fastest lap into the asphalt.

That's why you should definitely take the training before the race weekend. We recommend that you set the car damage to "Simulation". If you drive the practice session without damage, you can easily be too aggressive and make driving mistakes without being aware of the consequences. Because small mistakes in critical places can easily damage your car and it's better if you know them before the race.

It's best to feel your way to your limits in training and study the track down to the smallest detail so that you can keep your head clear in the race and drive with more foresight. You will achieve the greatest training effect if you train with the same fuel level as in the race. It's also important to remember which gears you need to use in which bends.

As a rule of thumb, you should tend to select a higher gear in fast corners so that your vehicle doesn't decelerate as much. In tighter corners, use a lower gear instead to get around corners better.

Training is also the perfect opportunity to try out different types of tires. Test in detail which type of tire harmonizes with your setup and driving style and devise the appropriate pit stop strategy.

Note, however, that the driving physics in time trial mode are different from those in career or championship mode. Therefore, leave out the time trial mode for the time being and train exclusively in the mode you prefer to drive.

Faster than Schumi: Driving properly in the rain

At the latest on a wet track you can see who is a good racer. However, you can only show off your skills if you use the right tires. If you are unsure whether the tires should be changed, then wait for the recommendation of the race engineer via radio before you drive into the pits.

Another indicator that it's time to change tires in F1 2020 is the DRS indicator. When the DRS is deactivated, you can consider switching from dry to intermediate or wet tires. As soon as the DRS is reactivated, you can consider switching back to dry tires.

In addition, orient yourself on your lap times. If you lose more than two seconds per lap on a wet track, we recommend switching to rain tires. Also pay attention to the tire temperature. If the rain tires overheat, this indicates that the track is drying out and you should make a pit stop and change tires.

The right choice of tires alone will not win you a rain race. Due to the lower grip on a wet track, you have to adjust your driving style accordingly. You won't be able to drive as aggressively in corners and will need a braking distance that is 50-75 meters longer. This is because you have to be more careful with the brake pedal so that the tires don't lock up on wet surfaces.

Be careful to brake only on the straight and avoid curbs. Otherwise, your next spin and trip to the gravel bed is preprogrammed. Also when accelerating, don't push the accelerator pedal to the limit and shift up the gears earlier so as not to lose traction in the rain.

To support this, set the ERS to level 2 and the fuel mixture to level 1, so that your car produces less power on the track and you can control it better. You will also consume less gasoline. Calculate the lower consumption at the next fuel stop and take a few liters less with you to make up ground through the weight advantage.

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