Starting out in F1 2021 can be a tough experience, so we have created this guide to help you avoid 5 common mistakes that many beginners make!
Photo credit: EA / Codemasters
There are a number of mistakes that almost everybody makes when they first start out playing the F1 games. If you’re starting with F1 2021, there are more than a couple of pitfalls you will need to watch out for. But don’t worry, we have brought together five prime examples of rookie mistakes, so that you can make sure you steer clear of them.
Bad ERS Management
Managing your battery effectively is one of the single most important things to do in F1 2021. The better you get, the more important good ERS usage becomes. However, just because it’s less of a difference maker at a lower level, doesn’t mean that you should ignore it!
First of all, make sure you are out of the traction zone before you start deploying your battery charge. If you are experiencing wheelspin, as you will do to some extent on the exit of every corner without traction control, adding over one hundred more horsepower to the load that your rear wheels are under will certainly not help your traction.
F1 2021 BEGINNER’S GUIDE: HOW TO PERFECTLY MANAGE YOUR FUEL
Also, make sure you aren’t using too much of your battery early on in the race. If you are sitting comfortably in the slipstream and DRS of another car, you can use this opportunity to let the lack of drag your car is experiencing carry you along in a straight line without using any ERS. This way, you will make sure you have plenty in the battery for when you need to pass, or to stop someone else getting past you.
Using too many flashbacks
This one is really difficult to avoid, as flashbacks are such a tempting and useful option for so many players. However, if you want to improve at the game (as well as having a smoother, less stop-start racing experience), then limiting the number of flashbacks you have available per race is a good idea.
If you drive with unlimited flashbacks, you will subconsciously be driving with that knowledge. This translates to taking risks that, without the guaranteed flashback safety net, you wouldn’t usually be taking. Such reckless driving is a bad habit, but it is one that is hard to shake once you have established your driving style. This is why it’s essential not to lean too much on flashbacks when starting out.
Pushing flat out
F1 races are more a sprint than a marathon, that much is true. Despite that, it is a bad idea to just go out there and push the car to its limit lap after lap. The longer the race you are driving, the truer this becomes.
F1 2021 GUIDE: HOW TO MANAGE YOUR TYRES
In a longer race, tyre wear is certain to become a significant factor. If you have been pushing your tyres as hard as possible by putting in qualifying lap after qualifying lap at the start of your race stint, they will not hold up well at all after just a few laps. Not only is tyre wear critical, but so are your tyre temperatures. Pushing to the max will likely overheat your tyres, worsening their performance and costing you time.
Not using setups
Speaking of tyre temperature, it can be difficult to maintain an appropriate level of heat in your tyres without a setup designed for the circuit on which you are racing. That’s not the only way setups will aid you – pretty much everything becomes significantly easier and faster when you have the ideal setup in place.
HOW TO SET UP YOUR CAR FOR PORTIMÃO IN F1 2021
HOW TO SET UP YOUR CAR FOR SILVERSTONE IN F1 2021
Altering wing angles, suspension settings and differential percentages may not sound like your idea of fun, and that’s fine! What you can do, rather than designing a setup for yourself, is to find one online. We have a few F1 2021 setup guides here on OverTake that you can take a look at, but if you don’t find our setups to be to your liking you can look elsewhere. Watch out though, as some setups are designed for time trials, or else for experts who have thousands of hours in the game. Neither of these tyres of setup will be very useful for a newer player over a full race distance, so make sure you’re choosing the right kind of setup. All of our setups are beginner friendly and are designed for entire races.
Diving in at the deep end
Finally, it’s important that resist the urge to dive straight in at the deep end. Assists, such as traction control and ABS, may not be realistic for how F1 cars operate in real life, but they are there for a reason. Customise your assists when you start out, and don’t be afraid of running too many to start with. As you improve, you can steadily tone down or remove assists from your gameplay. This helps you to make the transition from beginner to pro.
HOW TO FIND THE BEST AI DIFFICULTY LEVEL IN F1 2021
Similarly, it’s a good idea to avoid multiplayer races to start with. These will often end up being un-fun and demotivating experiences, as many drivers go out there specifically to cause collisions, and others will have far more experience in the game than you will. Find your perfect AI level and get to work from there. You’ll improve faster than you think!
For more F1 2021 guides, check out our ultimate guide hub.
How to Master F1 2021: Ultimate Guide Hub
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