I think, it's all about adjusting. You all are trying to make the game feel like 2011, which is impossible. I mean, impossible with changing wheel settings. Of course, it's 5 mins work to make 2012 to 2011. But with wheel settings, you can just feel different. I mean, just adjust to it. For example say - I'll drive with 280 degrees and that's it. 280. No changes. No matter if you like it or not after 1 day - when you stick to it - you'll be at your best. Non stop settings changes means non stop driving style changes which definitely isn't good.
And yea, thinking matters. But here, too much thinking is the problem. Because the lack of pace into many people is simply because they don't stick with the same settings and just adjust to the game, but they are adjust all the time to new settings and new game and totally new car feeling and etc which confuses everything. I needed like 10 laps so I can reach 1.14.4 on Germany. If I was changing my wheel settings after each lap, I wouldn't be able to do even a 15.
Just try to stick with 1 settings that you like for 1 week and you'll see huge improvements.