We finally got a good look at F1 Manager 2022, Frontier Developments’ first foray into motorsport management, and it looks like it’s embracing track granularity.
For fans of the technical side of Formula 1, Frontier Developments has made a game destined to delight. It seems like there will be no end to the data you can mine to discover an edge in every race. The trailer shown on PC game program (opens in new tab) uses examples such as grip analysis reports from upcoming circuits, which you can use to set tire passes for your drivers, working out a schedule that will keep them on track as long as possible before making a pit stop.
Take a look for yourself:
Of course, one of the joys of F1 is the way the sport shows how the best laid out plans will rarely survive the impact of race day. Unpredictable weather can alter the surface of a track, requiring tire changes, and then there are mid-race collisions that force cars off the road. All of this is on display in F1 Manager 2022, where you’ll need to make real-time calls to keep your drivers on track and racing at peak performance.
According to the developer diary, you can give your drivers instructions mid-race, like telling them to go easy on the tyres, manage battery usage, or attack. But you can also issue more contentious orders, such as telling a driver not to compete with a teammate, an instruction that is sure to have a negative effect on team morale.
Outside of racing, you’ll be in control of every aspect of your team. You will be hiring people to work on your research and engineering teams, developing new parts for your cars; you’ll be exploring the lower leagues, looking for talented drivers to lead your team to victory; and all the while you’ll need to keep track of your team’s finances.
Considering the attention to detail in Planet Coaster, it’s no surprise that Frontier has captured such an accurate view of motorsport in F1 Manager 2022, but it’s reassuring to see it in action.
We won’t have long to wait to get our hands on the game either, with early access to F1 Manager 2022 starting on August 25th.