The phrase "It only rains in Spain on the plane" is proven wrong in F1 2021. Wet weather isn't uncommon at the Spanish GP in the official Formula 1 game. So, you'll have to make sure you're prepared for the rain by adapting your dry weather setup for when the heavens open.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has a bit of everything, so setting up your car isn't easy. We've put the hours in, in practice though, so you don't have to. Here's what we found to be the best setup for Spain in F1 2021!
Aerodynamics
There are two long straights at the Circuit de Catalunya, but your downforce has to be set to almost street circuit levels to be quick in the wet. 9-11 wings will allow you to take long corners like Turns 3, 4 and 9 with incredible speed.
You'll more than make up for being slow on the straights, especially because the rear of the car will be planted to the circuit through awkward corners like Turns 7 and 11.
Transmission
For wet setups especially, you need to have a transmission that's more open than usual to be quick. An on-throttle differential of 65% and an off-throttle of 50% allows for gradual transmission of power and a steady rude through the off-throttle corners.
Suspension Geometry
Even around a circuit that eats tyres as easily as Spain, the wet tyres last for a surprisingly long amount of time. The toe has to be set all the way down at the lowest value to give the most grip possible. That means that 0.05 on the front and 0.20 on the rear is ideal despite the increased tyre wear.
Even with the front camber at -2.50 and the rear at -1.70, you'll be able to do a one stop on the wet weather tyres.
Suspension
Your suspension needs to be setup for a good compromise between a stable ride and one that's still responsive. The kerbs in Spain aren't very harsh, but they are slippery, even more so in the wet. So, we went for a middle of the road option with 6-6 suspension springs.
The anti-roll bar has to be fairly stiff though, despite the wet weather. 7-7 for the anti-roll bar gives you good high-speed direction change will maintaining a smooth and consistent ride.
The ride height needs to be on the high side thanks to the big climb in the first and final sectors. 4-6 gives you a chance over the kerbs too, as going for a spin on them is all too easy to do.
Brakes
Turn 1 is a big stop and you need a lot of brake pressure available to be able to pass other drivers. 95% is the highest you can go without locking up regularly. The brake bias should be around 56% towards the front.
Tyres
The pressure within the tyres should be set high to help keep the tyres hold their temperature. 21.8 psi on the fronts and 23.1 psi on the rears is what you need to be fast in Spain. Feel free to lower these pressures though if the tyres are overheating and you're suffering excess tyre wear.