RELATED: Best Arcade Racing Games
With multiple elements in mind, it’s easy for players to find themselves a bit overwhelmed racing their way to the top of the podium. As such, both newcomers and vets to the racing management sim may find themselves committing small mistakes that can ruin their playthrough.
10 Ignoring Research Opportunities
Part of what makes F1 Manager 2022 fans love its management aspect is how there’s a semblance of tactical strategy in the title, particularly in the form of research. However, fans of racing games may just want to get on the track on the get-go, letting fate and the machines determine their fate. However, players skipping out on research opportunities can set their team up for failure, especially when the method to do so is staring right at their faces.
At its core, the circuit information can provide a lot of useful information players may want to look into not just with the current race but for the ones in the future as well. The information included here includes pit lane time loss, tire abrasiveness, and the expected weather report. This allows players to anticipate certain things in advance and adjust accordingly. Another important way of adjusting to these parameters is car attributes, as the game may recommend certain setups based on the circuit information.
9 Skipping Practice Sessions
Players confident enough with their machines can definitely jump straight to an F1 Manager 2022 race, but this leaves a lot of things to chance that players can easily control in practice sessions. For instance, players who take their drivers to practice sessions may miss out on performance bonuses that can greatly boost their driver’s performance on the road and make races easier for teams.
Players may want to secure performance bonuses a race can offer through practice sessions to avoid this caveat. Up to 15 performance bonuses can drastically improve the driver’s performance in a race. For instance, car parts knowledge is a permanent bonus that players must regularly retrain when new car parts are introduced. Likewise, track acclimatization boosts every weekend the driver spends in training. Lastly, car setup confidence boosts the driver’s startup performance.
8 Not Maximizing Both Drivers
Players just getting into F1 Manager 2022 would be surprised to see that their team can have two drivers and two machines in a match, effectively giving two chances of scoring the coveted podium finish. However, players may often find themselves at a standstill as to whether they should have their drivers use the same strategy or split up, with a rather random decision potentially costing them the match.
In this regard, it may help players consider splitting their drivers’ strategies. Remember, a driver may have separate approaches depending on tires, pit stops, and fuel consumption. Depending on the circuit, these are on top of strategies the game itself will recommend. In turn, a driver playing aggressively and one playing it safe may produce two different results, but one of them will likely be able to secure the advantage.
7 Panicking In The Middle Of The Match
Players who get into F1 Manager 2022 for the first time can think of the game as an RTS mixed with racing. Instead of units, players need to monitor Formula One cars, and in place of super-weapons are the likes of pit stops to secure the advantage. However, in high-speed racing matches, a player’s racing game mindset can kick in and make them panic once the unexpected happens, such as enemies getting ahead or their driver getting in an accident.
RELATED: Most Realistic Racing Games Ever
Players tend to panic when these things happen, leading to split-second decisions that can cost the match. Remember, F1 Manager 2022 has a pause button that allows players to review everything happening in the match. Players should use this feature liberally, not just in emergencies. This is a good method of assessing which rivals to watch out for, assessing the car’s structural integrity, and the like.
6 Prioritizing First Place
Anyone who’s ever watched a racing film or played a racing game knows that coming first is always the best objective, as there’s no point being the protagonist if they’re not the best, right? This isn’t the case in the F1 Manager 2022 experience, as it works more as a Formula One simulator than a simple get-first racing title. While it’s tempting always to get ahead of the competition, players might do this at the cost of objectives - which can then lead to losses in the form of money or reputation.
Remember, each race in F1 Manager 2022 does have Performance Targets, which teams prepare for in the Race Weekend Preparation. These include Qualifying Targets, Race Targets, and Hot Streak Targets with general monetary awards. These goals don’t always ask players to secure first place. In turn, players may want to prioritize meeting these targets first, as they’re more economical than just winning.
5 Forgetting About The Safety Car
Similar to other modern racing titles where weather conditions may increase the risk element in matches, F1 Manager 2022 also gives Formula One races room for accidents and other racing hazards due to weather and other elements. As with real-life Formula One races, cautionary periods in races may force race phases with the Safety Car, which is responsible for “slowing down” more active racers to avoid worse accidents throughout the match.
RELATED: Best Racing Games You Can Only Play On Mobile
If players ignore Safety Car phases and pit stop indicators during critical situations, their car might be put in a worse situation. This not only might make them fall behind their rivals but even halt their progression entirely. To avoid these instances, players may want to go for a pit stop session when prompted or as soon as the rain starts. Likewise, it helps to use charging mode for batteries during the safety car phase.
4 Not Paying Attention To Rivals
Fans of racing games might be surprised to see that F1 Manager 2022 has a lot of value on the screen, especially after races. However, due to the nature of F1 Manager 2022 as a management sim, numbers factor into the Formula One game more than players think. Remember, since a majority of races could be automated via AI, players need to take note of how the numbers play into the race - especially with regard to rival teams.
For instance, players may want to check rivals’ lap times and tire times close to the team’s stats. That way, players can identify if there are any intricacies to the rival team’s strategies. An example of this is how players can compare whether tire wear time correlates to the opponent’s lap speed, as high wear could indicate more pit stops.
3 Ignoring The Long-Term Implications Of Drivers
Teams present in the F1 Manager 2022 experience aren’t complete with just their machines, as they need capable drivers who can use these cars to their full potential. Similar to other sports management titles, F1 Manager 2022 will have players not just hire and train drivers but even manage contracts and negotiate with them. However, one thing players can miss out on is that recruiting tried veterans or up-and-coming talents may drastically affect their performance in the season.
Players must remember that these kinds of drivers have their respective advantages and disadvantages, and they need to anticipate and adapt to these situations. For instance, trained veterans can indeed use machines better but are costly and retire early. Likewise, new talent may cost less and stay longer, but they need the appropriate training time and budget.
2 Leaving The Pit Crew Alone
While it’s true that an F1 Manager 2022 team’s race performance relies heavily on how their machines perform, their survival in any match is determined heavily by the Formula One pit crew. After all, pit stops are both a danger and a saving grace for races, as managers need to assess whether a few seconds in the pit is worth both the car’s restored performance and potential loss of position.
The quick answer is yes, especially if the pit crew is trained properly. One of the many options in F1 Manager 2022 is to train staff, particularly the pit crew, in balanced areas or specific fields. While they may come costly at first, the performance boost they provide can make a lot of difference in a match.
1 Neglecting The Upgrade Specifics
Similar to games where players are in charge of upgradeable machines, the cars in F1 Manager 2022 do have upgrade options throughout the season. However, in the spirit of keeping things as realistic as possible, the game limits how much money teams can allot for car upgrades and how often they can test these parts throughout the season. And with a system that allows players to upgrade extremely specific aspects of their vehicle, not knowing what to upgrade and when to do so can spell failure in the long run.
In turn, players need to look into just how necessary certain upgrades are in the context of the season’s short-term and long-term aspects and their respective budgets. Players also need to factor in whether they need to improve their lesser-performing components to make the car an equal performer or continue improving winning components.
F1 Manager 2022 is playable on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PS5
MORE: Best Racing VR Games For The Oculus Quest 2
