F1 Manager 2022: 5 Key Decisions for Team Principals to Make
It’s here! Roaring out of the garage and sending it into turn one, F1 Manager 2022 is available now in early access for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Purchasing the digital version of the game means you can jump in today, becoming the Team Principal for one of the 10 official F1 teams, ahead of its launch on August 30.
The official F1 management game, from the team here at Frontier Developments, gives you more control than ever before over the fate of an F1 team. Race after race, season after season, it’s up to you to steer your crew to the top — but achieving this will only be possible by making the right decisions at the right time.
As you get your feet under the Team Principal’s desk for the first time, we’re here to serve up some examples of the decisions you’ll need to deliberate over as the boss. Use data and insight, and keep a cool head to make the right call!
Split the Strategy?
Race day in F1 is when the glory is up for grabs. The difference between a positive or negative result in a race can often come down to key decisions away from the track – either on the pit wall, or even back at HQ before the action begins.
In F1 Manager 2022, ahead of race day you’ll decide the starting race strategies for your two drivers. Choose their plan for tyres, pit stops, and how hard to push during each stint. Use an array of car and track information to inform your strategy, and try to get the upper hand on your competitors.
A dilemma you’ll often see in F1 is if both drivers on a team should run similar pit strategies, or run different plans. The latter gives you two potential routes to victory, but it could ensure only one driver has a shot at the optimal result. You’ll need to decide what strategies give you the best chance of success – though of course, once the race begins, anything can happen…
Fortune Favours the Brave?
Throughout a race day in F1 Manager 2022, you can watch the action unfold via stunning broadcast-quality presentation. Be on the lookout for moments that could throw your planned strategy into disarray — or present an opportunity to turn the odds in your favour.
After a dry start to the race, let’s say the weather is beginning to take a turn for the worse. As raindrops begin to fall around the circuit, a switch from the slick dry tyres to grooved Intermediate rubber seems best — but when do you call your driver in for a pit stop? Do you risk going earlier than your rivals, or wait until other drivers pit, to make sure it’s the right call?
Use a host of live data, timings, and graphics to decide whether to stay out or come in. Consider the attributes of your drivers when making this decision, too. A strong Adaptability rating means they will find it easier as the conditions change. An inspired split-second decision like this can lead to a sensational win, or the loss of vital championship points. No pressure then!
Recruitment: Rookie or Veteran?
A boss is only as good as the team they oversee — and in F1 Manager 2022, you have control over the recruitment of your drivers and key staff. Choose to work closely with your current main drivers, reserve driver, Race Engineers, Technical Chief, and Head of Aerodynamics, or search the market of real-world drivers and staff for fresh talent.
However, as we see in F1, these decisions can be taken out of your hands. As they age, drivers and staff become more likely to retire, which will leave you in need of a replacement. Let’s say you have Sebastian Vettel on your team, but he decides to call it a day, as he recently announced in the real F1 paddock. Who do you then recruit to take Vettel’s place?
Do you opt for a younger talent from the official F2 and F3 grids, often with high potential to improve their abilities? Or do you approach a tried-and-tested F1 veteran, such as Daniel Ricciardo or Niko Hulkenberg? Either way, you’ll need to ensure you have the budget and negotiation skills to ensure your chosen driver signs on the dotted line.
Car Development: Buy in Bulk?
Whilst the personnel you have in place at an F1 team is vital, it’s just as important to have a powerful car that can deliver on a race weekend. As a Team Principal, you’ll have total control over developing your car through every season, going into precise detail on the changes you want your team to implement.
You’ll have a set allocation of hours to test new parts over the course of a season, as well as a cost cap for how much money can be spent on parts. This means you need to think carefully about how and when you choose to make improvements to your car. Just like we see with the real F1 teams, this leaves you with a conundrum: Which areas of your car should you upgrade to compete with your rivals?
From downforce, to top speed, cornering and more, you can track the performance of your car and see which areas are performing better than others. Do you develop parts that focus on bringing those lesser-performing areas up to scratch? Or do you double down on the strong points of your car to press home that advantage? The latter strategy can pay dividends at circuits that suit your car’s strong points, but hurt your chances at others.
All of your rivals will also be developing their car, so make your call and keep up with the pack!
Facilities: Help the Team or the Tunnel?
Every team needs the right infrastructure to succeed. In F1 Manager 2022, upgrading and refurbishing your Facilities is key to providing your personnel with what they need to get the job done. From boosting morale, to improving the potential of part testing, plenty of benefits will come your way when investing in Facilities.
Upgrades like these, though, come at a cost, and managing your finances is paramount to keeping the board happy. So, perhaps you’ll only have the budget for one major Facility upgrade for a while. Do you choose to improve your wind tunnel, increasing the effects gained when you test new parts? Or do you go for a Team Hub upgrade, boosting the team’s morale and ensuring they gain experience quicker? It’s a tricky dilemma, but as the Team Principal, your employees will be relying on you to make the right call.
Whether you’re at the track or back at HQ, the power is in your hands to drive every decision – but with great power comes great responsibility. It’s time for you to take the reins and be the boss in F1 Manager 2022, available now on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One if you purchase digitally. Doing so will also get you a 10% discount, valid until August 30!
F1® Manager 2022
Frontier Developments