Formula 1 hasn't visited the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve since 2019, but you can still take on the Canadian Grand Prix in F1 2021.
With a brand new handling model, F1 2021 demands fresh setups. Trying to re-use one from the previous game is just a one-way ticket to the barrier.
Fortunately, we have put the laps in to find a stable and well-performing setup for you!
CLICK HERE FOR OUR F1 22 CANADA SETUP
F1 2021 Canda setup
A fan favourite thanks to its high-speeds, close walls, and plenty of wheel-to-wheel opportunities, the Canadian Grand Prix is one that everyone wants to be good at. Requiring a car that is fast in a straight line but perfectly balanced through the chicanes, it's a tricky one to get right.
Canada is also one of the few race tracks that really chews through tyres, with a two-stop race often being the best way to go. Or at least, it was...
This year, with this setup, you can make a soft-medium one-stopper work.
Aerodynamics
When you think of Canada, you often think of the long back straight and the low wings needed to maximise your speed there. But that is just a small part of the track.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is full of fast corners and curved acceleration zones as well as one or two hard stops. As a result you need some high wing levels to keep the car planted.
We've gone with 6-10 wings, which will keep the car nicely stable through the series of chicanes that make up most of the corners around this track. As you gain confidence in the new handling you can begin to peel off the wing one click at a time until you reach the edge of grip, downforce, and talent!
Transmission
Transmission is one of the setup areas that have changed drastically this year.
We've gone with 70% on-throttle differential. This will give you some good levels of traction out of the hairpin in particular. You can up this for qualifying, just be sure to drop it again for the race or you will quickly burn out your rear tyres!
55% off-throttle differential will help protect the inside rear tyre through those tricky braking zones and give you a bit more rotation in the car.
Suspension Geometry
Suspension Geometry is one of those parts of the setup that can be tricky to feel, especially on controller.
We've found that this setting creates a good balance for the car. As always its full right with the front camber and full left with the rear camber.
Front toe gets a click to 0.06 while rear toe is all the way left too.
Suspension
Suspension is the most driver-specific part of the car. If you like a car that is understeery, balanced, or oversteery then you can create it here.
We've gone for a balanced car, as the track doesn't tend to favour one over the other.
4-7 on the suspension and 3-6 on the anti-roll bars creates a solid platform for you to drive, never snapping out of line or drifting off course. You can create a little more rotation through the car by softening the front suspension.
Ride height is set to 4-6. This is because we will be riding a lot of kerbs around the Canadian track and you now need to protect your floor and the aero performance it creates.
Brakes
The best brake settings have changed a lot since last year.
We've gone with 95% brake pressure and 55% brake bias.
The pressure should be as high as you can make it without causing lockups. However, lockups are more frequent this year, especially rear lockups. That's why the bias is set further forward than F1 2020 players are used to.
Tyres
The tyres is another area that has changed dramatically.
With this setup we've found that 21.8psi on the front and 23.1psi works best.
This setup is very kind to the rear tyres, and you can extend stints in 25% and 50% races beyond what Jeff thinks. As a result you can make a 1-stop work as long as you aren't sliding the car around too much.
We are continually testing and updating our setups so be sure to bookmark this page and check back regularly!