Formula 1 fans rejoice, F1 2021 is here. You can read our F1 2021 review here.
The first official Formula 1 game produced from the EA-Codemasters partnership is a fantastic experience, but it can be difficult for new players to adapt to.
Never fear though, we're here to help. This article will tell you everything you need to know about Traction Control in F1 2021 and how to master driving without the assist.
What is traction control?
Traction Control (TC) is an electronic aid that limits the power delivered to the driving wheels of a car to prevent wheelspin. This is a common aid that you'll find on all modern road cars, as it helps reduce accidents, particularly in poor weather conditions.
Formula 1 cars though, don't have TC, as it takes some of the challenge away from racing these incredible machines. However, you can opt to have TC active in F1 2021, to allow players to get used to the cars.
With around 1,000 horsepower being transmitted to the rear wheels, it's very easy to get tail-happy exiting corners in an F1 car.
How to turn TC off
Turning traction control off is as easy as you'd expect in a Formula 1 game. From the home menu, select "Game options" then "Settings". From there, you need to go to "Assists" and navigate down to Traction Control. If you want TC off, then you'll need to turn this to off.
You also have the option to go for "medium" TC, which is a comfortable halfway house between off and full TC.
If you're in My Team, braking Point or another game mode, you can turn TC off before a racing weekend starts by pressing options (Menu in Xbox) in the loading screen.
How to drive without Traction Control
Adapting to driving a modern F1 car without TC isn't easy, but it is doable if you put the practice in. We recommend going into time trial, as this is the only game mode where the tyre temperature and wear are constantly optimum. This will give you the best chance possible to drive the car in a controlled manner.
We also recommend starting on medium TC, rather than no TC, as that's a driving style that's easier to get your head around. Choose a circuit that has big traction zones, i.e. slow corners that follow onto long straights. Good examples of this include Monza and the Red Bull Ring.
The driving style you need to employ for a car without TC is one of smoothness. You need to imagine there's an egg underneath the accelerator pedal and you have to avoid cracking it at all costs. You need to be gentle when reapplying the throttle after a corner, particularly one that has a slow-speed exit.
If you're accelerating out of a corner in fifth or a higher gear, you won't need to worry about wheelspin. If it's a lower gear than that though, you can't slam the loud pedal back on instantly, or else you'll be facing the wrong way.
This is all exaggerated in the rain or when your tyres are heavily worn, as there's even less grip available to utilise. Something else you'll need to practice without TC are your pit exits and race starts, as it's very easy to spin around without TC for those.
So, in short, get the laps in during a time trial session before applying what you've learned to a race in My Team or Braking Point.