In F1 23, being fast in wet weather conditions is crucial to success. So here is a guide to everything you need to know in order to out-pace the competition in wet conditions.
In 2023, it’s fair to say that the real-world Formula One season is seeing its fair share of wet weather action. In fact, the majority of events have seen some form of rain impact running.
Rain in the F1 23 game is just as crucial and prominent, with the title’s dynamic weather system constantly playing mind games with players. It is always a challenge, knowing how much grip one has as the track evolves. The lack of grip often requires great changes in one’s setup, driving style and tyre choice.
With so much to think about, it can be tricky getting everything right in these difficult conditions. To help out, here is a quick guide on how to dominate in wet weather conditions in F1 23.
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F1 23 Wet Weather Tyres
The first thing anyone thinks of when it comes to Formula One cars running in wet weather is the tyre compounds. The blue and green sidewalls of wet and intermediate tyres are only to be used in wet weather conditions and it’s important to know when to use them in F1 23.
As their names indicate, wet tyres are built for full-wet conditions with lots of rain falling on the track. Intermediate tyres, however, are best suited to a damp track that is either getting wet or drying out. Use them at the wrong time and you will either lack grip or overheat the tyres.
In general, knowing when to change between slicks and Intermediates is fairly simple. The DRS zones typically become unavailable when the game deems there to be too much water on-track for slick running. As a result, you should switch between inters and dry tyres when DRS zones are or aren’t active. For wet tyres however, one must feel the lack of grip and take the plunge.
Checking tyre temperatures will certainly help make the crossover from inters to wets. In fact, once the green sidewall tyres start to lose temperature, it is most likely time to switch. The same is true for wet tyres overheating. However, for the most part, this switch is best done on feel alone.
Unlike dry tyres, the wet weather tyres in F1 23 have very minimal wear. In fact, most circuits will allow racers to complete the majority of races on one set in full-wet conditions.
Racing in the Rain
Now that you’re on the correct tyres for the conditions, it’s time to find a competitive edge on your rivals through your driving technique.
In the real world, wet weather driving involves a lot of experimentation as you search for patches of grip in odd parts of the track. However, F1 23 doesn’t truly simulate the wet line, nor do the game’s kerbs hold water as much as they would do in real life. As a result, one doesn’t have to alter their lines through a lap quite as much as the real thing. However, there are plenty of input changes one must make to avoid spinning out.
Whilst racers can relatively easy run the dry line, even in monsoon conditions, the key to surviving is all in one’s inputs. Short-shifting to avoid breaking traction in the dry is already a prominent feature. But it the wet, it is even more crucial to be in higher gears when on the power.
Make sure to gradually apply throttle pressure instead of slamming the pedal. This will help the tyres retain traction. Furthermore, shifting up a gear earlier than the LED display indicates will also prove beneficial to keep torque at a minimum.
This delicate approach is also important when hitting the brakes. Whereas in the dry, one can slam the brakes and gradually reduce pressure as the downforce comes off, doing this in the wet will cause immediate lock-ups.
The best course of action is feeding the brake pressure on early and gently. Feel how the tyres respond to more and more pressure and make sure to not overload them. As the speed comes off, lock-ups can become more and more likely. So, pump the pedal to act as an ABS system to avoid going straight.
Wet Setups in F1 23
Whilst controlling brake pressure is the best way to limit lock-ups in the rain, one can also make changes in the setup menu. There is a setting in the brakes tab of the setup menu dubbed brake pressure. This limits the amount of brake application one can reach despite a fully depressed pedal. We typically advise not to alter this setting for our dry F1 23 setups. But, it is useful for those that struggle to modulate the brakes in the wet.
Elsewhere, there are a number of setup tweaks one should make in the case of a fully wet session. When it comes to the suspension, a higher ride height and soft all-round spring setup is great for keeping the car above any standing water. Elsewhere, additional clicks of wing angle will generate more downforce and grip helping the car cut through the rain.
Finally, with acceleration being a challenge in the rain, differential settings are useful changes. The on-throttle slider in particular is best dropped to the most open setting possible; 50%. This makes for more gradual loss of grip and reduces the risk of sudden kicks of oversteer.
Depending on the forecast, tyre pressures are also important to keeping tyres alive in changeable conditions. If more rain is expected, it may be a good idea to raise tyre pressures in order to preserve temperature. However, if you start a race on a wetter compound and are predicting a switch to slicks, lower initial pressures may help preserve the initial tyre’s wear through the transition phase to slicks.
Has this wet weather guide for F1 23 helped you? Tell us on Twitter at @OverTake_gg or in the comments down below!
