Anyone who’s ever seen a Formula One race around a track will want to ride one – andF1 2021gives modern fans that same thrill. Thanks to this racing title, Formula One fans can finally experience the sheer speed in races that no other game could emulate. Racing fans will appreciateF1 2021for its realistic take on Formula One races – but this game is no typical racer.
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And those who seek to dominate the competition in Formula One races would have to stop thinking like a typical racing player and instead elevate their mindsets. Those new toF1 2021might feel a bit out of place when getting into their first few races. But just like with any other racing game, getting to feel the “groove” with a few tips can upgrade their racing game and have them dashing to the finish line.
Updated on July 13, 2025, by Rhenn Taguiam:F1 2021serves as the best answer for anyone who wants to experience being in an actual F1 Season. And unlike other F1 titles that let players stay behind the wheel as drivers, F1 2021 finally gives players the chance to participate both as a racer and even the manager of their own team.
Not to mention, F1 2021 has an actual story mode in the form of Braking Point, making it the third game in the EA Sports belt to actually have a story mode. However, for players who want to take their F1 game to the next level, they might want to start following more pro tips such as freely adjusting difficulty levels, being careful how they drive, and slowly adjusting their approach to player assists.
14No Shame In Adjusting Difficulty
It might be surprising to some players to see this game has settings for adjusting the difficulty. However, one can blame the “git gud” mentality for players mentally shaming themselves by adjusting a game’s difficulty on the fly. For a game as technical asF1 2021, adjusting difficulty can greatlyhelp the learning experience.
InF1 2021, the difficulty slider is found inside the Simulation Settings, where it could be adjusted from 1 (Easy) to as high a 110-percent (Legend). The best way to test these difficulty setups is within a quick Grand Prix mode, and players can find the “sweet spot” they want to train with. They can increase the difficulty once they feel more confident, making theirF1experience more enjoyable without being too easy or too difficult.
13Stay Wary Of The Track
Given howF1 2021really amps realismto 100, it helps to be more careful with how players race in any kind of track. For instance, unlike otherF1titles, hitting the curb this time around will simulate the feeling of hitting a bump, forcing the vehicle to lose traction - which could easily lead to accidents. While it’s possible to recover from a wheel spin because of the curb, it’s not always a pleasant experience.
The physics also affects the way the cars interact with the tracks. Wrong timings with the braking point can force the car to fall back much further than anticipated. Moreover, slight mishaps in collisions could lead to tire punctures and severe understeering.
12Be Careful With Beginner Assists
As with difficulty settings,F1 2021alsolets newcomers toggle beginner assistsin the game. This takes the form of Steering and Braking Assists, Anti-Lock Brakes, Traction Control, Dynamic Racing Lines, and even Gearbox. However, as effective as these controls are, they might set bad habits for players instead of developing their overall skills for more difficult play modes.
For beginners, Automatic Gears, ABS, and Traction Control can greatly help them get more acquainted with the more technicalF1experience. However, it’s not advisable for newcomers to even use Steering Assist and Braking Assists, as they can make newcomers more dependent on the game’s AI than usual. At its core, it’s best to turn off assists in this order as players get more experience:
11Turn Steering To Your Advantage
Steering can be one of the trickiest aspectsof any driving game to learn, and failing steering is much more punishing inF1 2021.Despite the sheer irritation of the game’s steering mechanics, it’s actually one of the best first lessons for newbies to get. At its core, mastering steering means securing almost half of all difficult aspects of any track. For more optimized Steering, here are some recommended settings:
10No Shame In Formula Two
Newcomers who try getting to a prix as soon as they openF1 2021are in for a rough time. After all, control becomes the name of the game when all Formula One cars are much faster than the flashiest commercial cars today. And while a player’s first fewF1 2021games can become overwhelming, this doesn’t mean they should drop the game.
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Players who want to ease their way into the core Formula One experience can try their hand inF1 2021’s Formula Two grid. Like in real life, F2 cars lack the complicated gizmos of their F1 counterparts, but they are still speed devils in their own right. Players who want to train in handling raw speed first could get into F2 before getting into the coreF1 2021modes.
9Time Trial Is Everyone’s Best Friend
Newcomers and series fans would want to head intoF1 2021and its Time Trial mode before proceeding anywhere else. Firstly, newcomers can use Time Trial to get a “glimpse” of how racing works for Formula One. With a high-powered car in their hands, newcomers need to balance acceleration, cornering, and braking properly. That way, they can get into other parts of match management - fuel, tyres, and the like - without worrying about their handling.
Secondly, Time Trial easily becomes a great way for series vets to get familiar with new changes to the beloved franchise. WhileF1 2021largely carries over most gameplay elements, the improved graphics and changes to vehicle control can still surprise the most dedicated franchise savants.
8Get Practical With Assists
WithF1 2021trying to replicate the real Formula One experience as accurately as possible, players are bound to manage a ton of things. And with a high-speed race on top of all these setups, it’s easy for players to feel overwhelmed. Both newcomers and series vets would have a much better time with the game if theyactivate most of the game’s assistsefficiently.
For instance, players can activate Steering Assist, Braking Assist, and Anti-Lock Brakes to allow the AI to help them pull off tighter corners. Likewise, Dynamic Racing Line gives players a visual line to follow whenever racing. Lastly, Traction Control on High helps prevent wheelspins from happening. Players can slowly turn these settings off as they get more confident with their game.
7ERS Assist Makes Management Bearable
Players ofF1 2021who watch actual races would know that Formula One isn’t always about speed. Rather, it’s about managing things as complicated as pit stop entries and lap times, and even simple things such as fuel and tyres. InF1 2021, even battery usage requires players to manually press another button throughout laps to maximize energy usage.
Thankfully, players can avoid this frustration with ERS (Energy Recovery System) Assist turned on. With this activated, the game itself will manage the car’s battery throughout the laps. This leaves players with room to manage other aspects of the race, such as steering and cornering, and even pit stop coordination.
6Flashbacks Make The Game More Bearable
Flashbacks make a comeback inF1 2021, much to the chagrin of some hardcore fans. With Flashbacks, players can “reverse” the flow of time and correct mistakes they’ve made throughout the match. In some games, Flashbacks can serve as a neat story mechanic. However, players who hesitateto use Flashbacksshould feel more inclined to use it for its practical benefits.
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Aside from preserving time, Flashbacks prevent players from starting quite a long race. If players suffer a match-breaking crash midway, repeating yet another 50 laps to get to the same point can make the game less encouraging.
5Feel Free To Experiment With Setups
Advanced players who want to get the most out of theirF1 2021experience can get more creative with their setups across different locations. For example, Japan-based tracks might need cars that can access more downforce given the many twists and tight corners in their tracks.
With these in mind, players can always use guesswork and even practice mode to find the best setup for their cars. However, those who want a more authentic Formula One experience can also check the leaderboards to try and study the setups that other players are using.
