WHEN playing F1 Manager 2022 it’s important to keep your cool both when preparing for and during a big race.
This is no easy task, but it’s even more difficult when you don’t know the racing series inside and out.
Race to the top with F1 Manager.
You don’t need to be an F1 aficionado to do well in this game.
Pick the right team, follow this beginner’s guide, and you’ll be off to the races.
Start development as soon as possible
Before starting the first race of the season, you should visit your team’s development department and commission your first designs.
Try to begin with big parts like the chassis and the underfloor for optimal results, as these affect many different aspects when driving.
When doing so, it’s important to allocate a generous testing time to these projects to get the best results.
Also, never choose a new suspension for your first development.
After the first race you will receive an upgraded suspension for free to introduce you to the development system.
Accept optional sponsor goals
Money makes the world go round and that’s no different in the world of F1 Manager.
Each sponsor will assign you a number of goals and on completion you will earn certain bonuses.
You will be given the option to accept sponsors at the start of each race with added bonuses.
Despite the penalties for failing to fulfill your goals, these are worth it if you have a strong team on your side.
In particular, teams like Alfa Romeo benefit from this as they have good cars but poor finances.
Play at least one practice session
Not only do practice sessions help you learn the track and find the perfect set up for your car, but you will receive bonuses for the upcoming race.
You can watch the AI do the track as usual, but it is worth trying out one of the three practices for yourself.
Send out drivers with white or yellow tyres and listen to their feedback on the radio.
Then you can adjust the values individually within the displayed range based on their feedback.
This will really help you get the optimal performance on the big day and is an easy way to earn extra places.
Aggressive start settings
Adjust your driver settings to full aggression at the start of the race to start things off with a bang.
The perfect time to do this is when the game asks you to create a strategy.
Have your drivers tackle the tyres aggressively, use the engine’s push mode, and employ the ERS overtaking function.
This will put your drivers in the best position possible for when the DRS becomes unlocked.
Push, push, push!
While the fuel gauge may look terrifying as it drops into the negative, it’s important to push to the limit at the start to keep momentum for the race.
The lower your weight, the faster you go and emptying your fuel out as you rev away helps with that.
Once DRS goes active later in the race you’ll begin saving fuel, particularly as you slip stream other cars.
Try to keep in push mode for as long as possible and end with your car on empty.
Safety car and rain
When a race doesn’t go to plan it’s important to know how to manage your pit stops.
When accidents cause phases with the safety car and the game tells you it’s a good opportunity for a pit stop, it probably is.
If you are on the tail of your opponents though, keep on track. These benefits will outweigh anything gained by a fresh set of tyres.
Switching your battery to charging mode during a safety car will also help you conserve your fuel and tyres.
Rain is a good opportunity to make a stop, especially if it starts while you’re near the entrance.
Pop on some intermediate tyres and get one up on the competition.
Take a look at your rivals
F1 Manager 2022 is a game of numbers, and not just yours, but other players too.
As a beginner, most of it isn’t too helpful, but you should keep an eye on your rivals’ tyres and lap times in comparison to yours.
High wear on tyres means the team is willing to make more pit stops which you can capitalise on.
Comparing lap times will show you where they accelerate and where they cruise so you can make your move.
Keep a cool head
When taking part in a fast-paced race, your next move might not seem obvious.
Pausing the game to study data before making decisions is a good way to give yourself some space.
For example, if one of your drivers crashes but is still able to drive on, go over your options and decide if a pit stop is the right call.
Making rash decisions will lead to losses, and pausing lets you take all the time you need.
Keep your eye on the target
It’s important to keep your eye on your overall goal, rather than making risky decisions for short term gains.
While you may want to be up the front with the Ferraris and the Red Bulls, staying in their DRS window will give you the bigger advantage.
You may wear out your tyres trying fruitlessly to get one place up, and then the car behind starts to kick at your heels.
Conserve your resources, save the overtaking, it’s all about the points at the end of the season.
Check contracts in good time
Your drivers start with only a one year contract, making it essential that you think about any future team changes from the get-go.
Also check in with the chief designers, as other teams could be looking to up their games.
Invest in your headquarters to boost your team’s attractiveness and help with your negotiations.
And don’t worry if your negotiating partner runs out of patience. They’ll be back in a few days.
Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.
