Anyone who has ever driven in heavy rain will be able to attest to how difficult the conditions can be. Reduced visibility, harsher braking conditions, and reduced grip are just a few of the perils that await you. Now imagine this scenario, but in an open-wheel race car driving at speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour, in a large helmet with up to 20 other drivers all experiencing the same conditions attempting to overtake you.
F1 is a sport that can be incredible for spectators, but it can be at its toughest and most dangerous for drivers once the rain sets in, and F1 2020’s car control means you can’t simply drive in the wet like you would in the dry. This is amplified massively if you are a player who prefers to play with the assists turned off as acceleration becomes incredibly easy to spin your car out.
When it comes to taking corners in F1 2020, the game recommends that you use the ‘lift and coast’ method on your approach. Lift to coast is the method of lifting off the accelerator ahead of a corner heading into the braking zone of a corner, where you would need to brake to take it effectively. Typically, this is used to help maintain a good fuel economy as you progress throughout a race, but it becomes more important when driving in the rain as the additional slipperiness of the wet track makes breaking firmer very difficult to maintain the balance of the car.
Not only this but accelerating off the grid and on the way out of a corner is also made far more difficult as the traction control system in the car is unable to maintain a grip on the tarmac comfortably. In this situation, the best approach is to be more subtle on the accelerator, taking more time to build the throttle to full power. This should allow your tires to keep traction while maintaining control on the follow-through.
You should also avoid turning sharply. The wet surface makes it more slippery, meaning a sharper turn will lose traction on the track faster, which makes you spin out more easily. If this means breaking for longer into a turn to present a cleaner transition through a corner, then it should help you stay on track.
Finally, use boosts such as DRS and ERS only when you absolutely need them and when you don’t need to turn. Boosting with ERS especially can cause issues with stability, even on a dry surface, so sending extra power to the wheels should only be done on a straight, and when you’re confident that you will be able to handle a safe overtake.
These tips together should allow you to maintain a good pace when the track is wet. Other racers will also spin out on wet tracks, so you may see more yellow flags in Grand Prix races, where you will not be able to overtake and will need to be vigilant to avoid penalties.
