If you're looking to improve your ERS usage in F1 24, we've got you covered. The Energy Recovery System (ERS) has changed markedly since F1 23.
ERS gives you electrical power from the Formula 1 car's batteries and provides a significant percentage of the car's overall horsepower.
ERS battery management is also crucial for optimizing your race performance, so this is a vital part of F1 racing in 2024.
So, with all that in mind, here are our tips on how to use ERS in F1 24.
What is ERS?
ERS energy is discharged to the rear wheels when you accelerate and get on the throttle.
The ERS batteries are recharged when you get on the brakes and slow the car down. Heat from the brake pads is recovered and changed from heat to electrical energy.
ERS will automatically deploy depending upon which is selected at any time out on track. On the HUD, the green bar on the right is the ERS deployment level. This shows how much ERS can be deployed in a lap.
The yellow bar beneath shows the total battery charge remaining. The red bar on the left-hand side is the battery regeneration. This is how much the battery recharges in braking zones (MGU-K) and through exhaust generation (MGU-H).
ERS modes
Just like settings such as the differential and historically, the fuel mixture, there are numerous different options for ERS deployment.
In F1 24, there are four different ERS options to choose from: None, Medium, Hotlap, and Overtake. Each mode has different advantages during an F1 weekend.
For example, setting it to None solely focuses on recharging the battery without generating any deployable energy. This should only be used on out-laps in qualifying/ practice.
Medium is a balanced mode and should be used during most of the race. Hotlap is mainly used for qualifying runs but can also be used to defend during races.
Lastly, Overtake is when the ERS button is used.
How to manage ERS usage
ERS can be used at any point around the track, but there are times when makes more difference. For example, when getting off the line at the start of the race, hitting overtake will give you a big boost.
Similarly, using the higher ERS modes out of slow corners and down long straights is best. This will give you the best time gain, as using it through fast corners and short straights won't have the same effect.
Overtake can be activated at any time by pressing LB on Xbox or L1 on PlayStation. ERS can be set to hold or toggle and this is customizable in the control settings.
Go to Settings > Controls, Vibration & Force Feedback > Generic Settings to find this option. We've found that toggling is easier on a controller, but hold is better on a wheel.
How to change ERS mode
ERS modes can be changed at any time out on the track via the MFD. ERS modes are displayed at the bottom of the first page of the MFD.
Cycle through these to test out how these modes affect the car's performance. You can do this by using the d-pad left and right arrows.
For more on F1 24, check out our review and setups guides for the best configurations on each circit.
Has this guide helped you use ERS in F1 24? Let us know in the comments below!
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