F1 2016

[TreeWood]

Sept 19, 2016 19:54:17 GMT -5 SmilingGoats said:

What's the secret to pit strategy? I'm losing races in the pits. Last two races, I've been in the top 10, pitted with the car in front of me but come out of the pits in last place. My pit crew seems slow.

There's a few things to consider when it comes to pit strategies - some of which you can control, and some of which come down to "luck", "the breaks", whatever you want to call it.

First off, pre-race you need to consider whether or not an additional pit stop (2nd, 3rd) is going to be worth it -- ie factor in how much time you'll lose on the slow trip along pit lane and actually in the pits, and compare it against how much time you'll be able to make up on your subsequent stint on the new tire compound before the tires degrade. You might need to adjust your driving style depending on the compound and stint length as well. For example, if you're expecting to run ultra softs for 15 laps, you're going to have baby them a little to get the most out of them over that distance - if you drive like a banshee and wear them down massively within 8-9 laps, you're going to be struggling with the car and losing tons of time over the remaining 6 or so laps. At that point, you've got two bad options to choose from: stay out and give up ground until the next pit window, or pit early to get fresh rubber, but concede 20-30 seconds due to your time in the pits, and maybe the possibility that you'll have to make an additional pit stop later in the race.

This leads to the luck/breaks aspect. Say you're out there on thrashed tires, and the safety car comes out. You just got lucky, and you'll want to hit the pits right away. Sure you'll give up positions, but not that much in terms of distance to the leader. Giving up positions isn't that crucial if you've got the time and the rubber to make that up vs the competition. That's why it's good to note what compound the others are running on, and to have some idea of whether they're on old or new tires - and vitally, what compounds you have to choose from.

Sometimes it's worth adjusting your pit window depending on where you are currently, or where you'll be coming out of the pits. For example, if you're 2-3 laps short of your pit window, but stuck behind a gaggle of 4-5 cars that are only slowing you down, you might as well pit early - especially if it looks like you'll come back out to a relatively open track -- where you can make up time more easily, and hopefully catch those same drivers when they've separated themselves somewhat.

As to slow pit crew... don't know what you can do about that! 
 

[dh-nufc]

Maybe the issue is that you're coming into the pits at a busy time and when your pit crew have finished you can't get back out because other cars are passing? Try to slightly adjust your strategy so you don't pit with the majority of cars.

[mrooola]

My experience from older F1 games and watching the sport liva and on TV is that it's almost always beneficial to use as few stops as possible unless there is a decent chance of rain during the race.

In games passing other cars is often doable, but F1 is not the easiest of motorsports to pass on. It's not NASCAR to say the least. I hear many say: "Pace car is out. Do a pit stop to get on fresh tires. You wont lose much time" or even "pace car. Free pit stop". That is true to a degree and if your tires are worn out you might as well go, but as it's difficult to pass in F1, if your tires are somewhat fresh staying out and possibly gain a few spots can be even more beneficial. It's a gamble both ways and obviously this is very depending on what track you race on.

When there is risk for rain, using more stops with softer tires can be very beneficial as you might be able to change to wets on a regular stop instead of doing a extra stop. Pretty simple really.

One of the most difficult things to master in video game racing is the pit entry. Drive too fast and you risk a penalty. This is almost always learnt the hard way. What it usually results in is a entry where you drive WAY too slow and loose valuable seconds. This is another reason few stops are often beneficial.

I don't play this game (yet) so some of this might be a bit off due to specific in-game mechanics.

[SmilingGoats]

Sept 20, 2016 2:22:26 GMT -5 dh-nufc said:

Maybe the issue is that you're coming into the pits at a busy time and when your pit crew have finished you can't get back out because other cars are passing? Try to slightly adjust your strategy so you don't pit with the majority of cars.

Ahh, I never thought of that but that could be it.  It seemed like they were done changing the front tires and a couple of seconds went by before I was able to leave my stall.

[dh-nufc]

Well round 4 - Russia (Still on Hard)
I've never raced on this track before so there was a fair amount of track acclimatisation to do. I managed to memorise the corners but I was still far too slow.
Usually I'm like this but then something clicks, it happened again. I ended up setting a practice time which they estimated would get 5th on the grid.
I would need a performance like that to beat my new rival Kimi Raikkonen.
I headed into Q1. I put in an average time and I was sitting in 16th place. I was on the edge. I started a final lap with seconds to go but I wasn't able to improve my time, luckily though nobody else did.
The super soft tyre was the way to go but now I was aware of the new rules about starting the race with Q2 tyres, I thought I'd have one run on the softs as a benchmark. If it went well and I qualified for Q3 I would be in a great position. I put in a blistering lap and was sitting well inside the top 10. I did go out on the super softs just to guarantee my place but I misjudged the time it takes to get around and missed the opportunity. It didn't matter, I still got through. Now I would start the race on the hardly used soft tyres. That would surely put me in a good position when others had to pit earlier.
Q3 went well and I was able to secure a 4th place start. Raikkonen was down in 7th.

The Race
Wet, very very wet. My tyre advantage was out the window now and it would be the first time I'd really driven in full wet conditions.
There was an accident on the first corner, in fact I think it was before the first corner. 3 drivers out and safety car deployed. All 4 races have now had the safety car or VSC during the race.
I patiently waited behind the safety car and about 4 laps later the racing commenced, the fun began. Hamilton had a problem with his car and he was out. Up to third.
I spent the next few laps battling out for 2nd place with Riccardo, Vettel and once with Raikkonen. I think it was the most fun I've ever had in a wet race on any game!
Rosberg was leading and I couldn't catch him but I swapped positions with Vettel and Riccardo countless times. I eventually edged ahead and kept the lead for 2 laps.
2 laps to go now and in 2nd place. I get a 3 second penalty for cutting corners, it was justified. I know I needed a 3 second gap to the three behind, especially my new rival Raikkonen.
I put in the fastest lap of the race and was almost 3 ahead of them. 1 more good lap and i'd get a 2nd place. Unfortunately it didn't happen, I wasn't smooth. I stayed ahead but the gap had not increased.
I was gutted to see my final position of 5th. Ricardo and Raikkonen had beaten me by less than a second. ARRRRGGGHHH!!!

It was a great race, in fact the whole weekend was enjoyable. I'm still beating Raikkonen in the head to head due to my qualifying and fastest lap but this was a great chance to get a bit of a gap built up.

Onto Spain!!

[TreeWood]

Thx for the update, Dean.

For the first time ever, racing in the rain is actually manageable - not easy, but doable. I'm loving those driver battles where you're swapping spots over the course of three or four final laps. A slight mistake, and you're sucking your rival's exhaust fumes -- but hit the apex just right when he's off throttle for just a fraction too long, and you're back out front!

I'm starting to get the feeling that Raikkonen would just as soon rear-end me off the circuit than pass me cleanly. Most of the AI drivers aren't too bad... but Raikkonen and occasionally Vettel seem to have it in for me!

[TimB]

Couldn't take reading this thread. Was feeling like I was missing something.

Purchased, downloading now. Have to go out for a while will be ready to get all smashed up by time I get back.

No idea what I'm in for but will need something to play or do during the TGCT break before next season starts. Not sure I'll do full 100% races though like the ones Crazy has been streaming. Probably 50%'ers.

edit

Oh geez. 50% done downloading. Do I call my buddy and say "sorry I can't make it to the funeral, but I just installed f1 2016 and I'm itching to play it"

[TreeWood]

Sept 21, 2016 7:51:49 GMT -5 TimB said:

Couldn't take reading this thread. Was feeling like I was missing something.

Purchased, downloading now. Have to go out for a while will be ready to get all smashed up by time I get back.

No idea what I'm in for but will need something to play or do during the TGCT break before next season starts. Not sure I'll do full 100% races though like the ones Crazy has been streaming. Probably 50%'ers.

edit

Oh geez. 50% done downloading. Do I call my buddy and say "sorry I can't make it to the funeral, but I just installed f1 2016 and I'm itching to play it"

In a word.... yes, you call. He'll understand.  In any case, it's been 8 hours, so I take it you're back home and racing away! First impressions???

[TreeWood]

Holy sh%$... 16 hours since Brantford posted... and still no signs of life! Must be seriously addicted to F1 2016 by now.

[TimB]

Sept 22, 2016 0:48:57 GMT -5 TreeWood said:

Holy sh%$... 16 hours since Brantford posted... and still no signs of life! Must be seriously addicted to F1 2016 by now.

Lol. I stopped in here with my phone earlier but I hate posting on this thing. Hard to type. When I get on my pc later this morning I'll give my impressions then.

It is very addictive though. Did my first race in Australia but didnt do too great. Now I know a couple things after reading some stuff on the Internet and plan to restart my career.

Be back later with some full first impressions and quite possibly a question or two.

[TimB]

Ok now on my computer with a real keyboard I can see lol.

First impressions.

I'm no stranger to racing games, used to be all I played. Since getting into TGC the most racing I've done is Project Cars and Dirt Rally, oh and Forza 6 and Horizon.

I found at the start with F1, using a controller that it was tough to control, kind of twitchy. Lots of fiddling with the "advanced wheel settings' in particular the Linearity. Which I've cranked right up and has removed the twitchy feeling mostly. Now I'm able to control the car better.

One corner in Australia I could not get the car to turn, kept running off into the grass. SS tires in a practice I was able to get it to turn. I don't feel like I'm locking up the brakes so don't know what it is. No matter how slow I'm going and even in 1'st gear and no throttle it just doesn't want to turn.

So I did my first race of career in Australia, with the practice and qualifying at 25%. Wasn't prepared for a rain race. Found I had to granny around the track in 4'th gear in very low rpms just to keep from spinning the tires too much. My spatial awareness is bad at the moment, been so long since I've done some serious racing and I just kind of jumped in without much knowledge of the setups, handling and hud. Found myself looking at all the hud elements more than the road. I'd try and move out of the way of the entire field that was lapping me lol, and would get punted into a wall, blow my right rear tire, seemed like it was the same wall I was getting punted into and having to limp my way back to the pits. Used all my wet tires and was only left with intermediates.

Playing for Manor, since it says slower progression. I actually achieved my goal of finishing above 19'th place and got 17'th. They were happy with that lol.

Now after reading some stuff on the net I have a better grasp of setups and have written one down that he even says is kind of unconventional but fits with how I would tune in other racers, namely cranking negative camber to max, stiff front roll bar and some other stuff.

I have to learn my tire management and rules so I don't waste my softs in practice.

My plan for today is play a couple rounds on next weeks CC course to get a feel for that, then I'm diving into some serious racing, will do some quick races, play with some settings and setups, then restart my career...dread redoing the rain in Australia though lol


This game has to have the best career mode I've ever seen, very deep and detailed and lots of things to do and work for. I can't wait until I hone my skills a bit and get into some serious racing with this.

[TreeWood]

Sept 22, 2016 8:00:48 GMT -5 TimB said:

Ok now on my computer with a real keyboard I can see lol.

First impressions.

I'm no stranger to racing games, used to be all I played. Since getting into TGC the most racing I've done is Project Cars and Dirt Rally, oh and Forza 6 and Horizon.

I found at the start with F1, using a controller that it was tough to control, kind of twitchy. Lots of fiddling with the "advanced wheel settings' in particular the Linearity. Which I've cranked right up and has removed the twitchy feeling mostly. Now I'm able to control the car better.

One corner in Australia I could not get the car to turn, kept running off into the grass. SS tires in a practice I was able to get it to turn. I don't feel like I'm locking up the brakes so don't know what it is. No matter how slow I'm going and even in 1'st gear and no throttle it just doesn't want to turn.

So I did my first race of career in Australia, with the practice and qualifying at 25%. Wasn't prepared for a rain race. Found I had to granny around the track in 4'th gear in very low rpms just to keep from spinning the tires too much. My spatial awareness is bad at the moment, been so long since I've done some serious racing and I just kind of jumped in without much knowledge of the setups, handling and hud. Found myself looking at all the hud elements more than the road. I'd try and move out of the way of the entire field that was lapping me lol, and would get punted into a wall, blow my right rear tire, seemed like it was the same wall I was getting punted into and having to limp my way back to the pits. Used all my wet tires and was only left with intermediates.

Playing for Manor, since it says slower progression. I actually achieved my goal of finishing above 19'th place and got 17'th. They were happy with that lol.

Now after reading some stuff on the net I have a better grasp of setups and have written one down that he even says is kind of unconventional but fits with how I would tune in other racers, namely cranking negative camber to max, stiff front roll bar and some other stuff.

I have to learn my tire management and rules so I don't waste my softs in practice.

My plan for today is play a couple rounds on next weeks CC course to get a feel for that, then I'm diving into some serious racing, will do some quick races, play with some settings and setups, then restart my career...dread redoing the rain in Australia though lol

This game has to have the best career mode I've ever seen, very deep and detailed and lots of things to do and work for. I can't wait until I hone my skills a bit and get into some serious racing with this.

Wow! you definitely have jumped into the deep end, Tim.  From your post, I'm confused as to whether you're using a controller for steering input, or a wheel. I'll be no use to you re steering input info for a wheel, as I play on PS4 with a standard controller. Canuck might be of some help down the road if you have any issues to resolve there with a wheel. I've found that with a PS4 controller, going with full Traction Control in the game settings is a must. Maybe down the road Partial TC might be in the cards, but right now, the car's twitchier than hell without full TC.

Even though I'm quite familiar with many of the F1 circuits, I still use the Racing Line assist (Corners Only)... but I can't imagine you were going too fast for that turn in Australia if you were creeping in 1st gear. For a slow corner, if you're still not making it around, I would think one of a couple things... camber (make it more negative). Another thing to definitely check is the differential, try lowering the off-throttle percentage, which will allow your rear wheels to rotate at different rates around the corner. I've found the differential settings can make a big difference in how the car handles. Adjusting the front toe settings to the right also helps to make your car less tight (reduces understeer) in the corners, but that's usually more noticeable in medium speed corners.

It could just be that your steering input settings in "Advanced Wheel Settings" are buggered up. To test that theory, I'd try the default setups - first neutral, and then the one to the left (more downforce), and see how the car takes that corner, even at really slow speed. If you're still not making the turn, there's a problem with the steering input settings for sure.

LOL re the issues with eyes locked on the hud. I still have to be very careful to use it only on the really long straights, but I'm getting faster at finding what I want in time to make the fast-approaching hairpin. Getting punted seems to happen a bit more often than I'd expect... see my earlier post about that a-hole Raikonnen -- I think that's why CM allows infinite flashbacks. I don't think Andre would have finished any race so far without them. About half the time, the crashes/offs are driver error, and the other 50% come from dumb-f*ck AI ploughing into you or slamming on the brakes in front of you for no apparent reason.

A 17th place finish in a Manor in your first race bodes well for your career! The car's a piece of crap, so though it sounds bad, that's actually a decent result in the early going until you earn enough upgrade points via the Circuit Acclimatization, Tire Management, and Qualifying Pace exercises in the Free Practice sessions.

If you get a chance, do some testing in Australia (Time Trial), or Quick Race, and let us know how it's going with the turn in question. Which turn was it? The final very sharp left-hander before the turn onto the main straight?

[TimB]

Sept 22, 2016 11:30:25 GMT -5 TreeWood said:

Wow! you definitely have jumped into the deep end, Tim.  From your post, I'm confused as to whether you're using a controller for steering input, or a wheel. I'll be no use to you re steering input info for a wheel, as I play on PS4 with a standard controller. Canuck might be of some help down the road if you have any issues to resolve there with a wheel. I've found that with a PS4 controller, going with full Traction Control in the game settings is a must. Maybe down the road Partial TC might be in the cards, but right now, the car's twitchier than hell without full TC.

Even though I'm quite familiar with many of the F1 circuits, I still use the Racing Line assist (Corners Only)... but I can't imagine you were going too fast for that turn in Australia if you were creeping in 1st gear. For a slow corner, if you're still not making it around, I would think one of a couple things... camber (make it more negative). Another thing to definitely check is the differential, try lowering the off-throttle percentage, which will allow your rear wheels to rotate at different rates around the corner. I've found the differential settings can make a big difference in how the car handles. Adjusting the front toe settings to the right also helps to make your car less tight (reduces understeer) in the corners, but that's usually more noticeable in medium speed corners.

It could just be that your steering input settings in "Advanced Wheel Settings" are buggered up. To test that theory, I'd try the default setups - first neutral, and then the one to the left (more downforce), and see how the car takes that corner, even at really slow speed. If you're still not making the turn, there's a problem with the steering input settings for sure.

LOL re the issues with eyes locked on the hud. I still have to be very careful to use it only on the really long straights, but I'm getting faster at finding what I want in time to make the fast-approaching hairpin. Getting punted seems to happen a bit more often than I'd expect... see my earlier post about that a-hole Raikonnen -- I think that's why CM allows infinite flashbacks. I don't think Andre would have finished any race so far without them. About half the time, the crashes/offs are driver error, and the other 50% come from dumb-f*ck AI ploughing into you or slamming on the brakes in front of you for no apparent reason.

A 17th place finish in a Manor in your first race bodes well for your career! The car's a piece of crap, so though it sounds bad, that's actually a decent result in the early going until you earn enough upgrade points via the Circuit Acclimatization, Tire Management, and Qualifying Pace exercises in the Free Practice sessions.

If you get a chance, do some testing in Australia (Time Trial), or Quick Race, and let us know how it's going with the turn in question. Which turn was it? The final very sharp left-hander before the turn onto the main straight?

Been at it all day. Only showed up here is because I was right in the middle of my restarted career, Renault now. 3 laps into the race and the game crashed right as I was adjusting fuel mix on the fly. Haven't restarted the game yet to see where it puts me.

Using a controller but have made some adjustments in the advanced wheel settings. Linearity at 100% and 25% saturation. Changing those even affects a controller.

That turn I was talking about (now that I have Australia memorized lol) is the last sharp left just before the pit lane. Seems if I'm on medium tires is where I have the trouble. Softs and SS no problem. Camber is max full negative on front and back. Car is actually quite manageable now.

Just about to start it back up and try and finish this race. My hands are killing me lol

[TreeWood]

Yeah, that turn at Australia has to be taken at a snail's pace. Be careful with going max negative camber... if the tire-wear physics are somewhat realistic, you'll burn thru tires like crazy. I usually go with something like -3.20 on the front...

Weird with the game crash -- I've never had a problem with it.

Funny you're doing your career with Renault -- that's my team as well.  I like the Australian circuit alot, but don't always do well there. Now Bahrain is a different story! What level are you playing on? Medium??
 

[dh-nufc]

I'm at Renault too!