Lovers of racing titles will find thatF1 Manager 2022offers a new take on theFormula Onefranchise, especially sinceF1 Manager 2022doesn’t just let players take the backseat of a high-powered machine like in otherFormula Onetitles. Rather,F1 Manager 2022lets players take the reins as a manager of an actual team, being in charge of not just machine management but staff training and even budgeting to secure victory across seasons.
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With multiple elements in mind, it’s easy for players to find themselves a bit overwhelmed racing their way to the top of the podium. As such, both newcomers and vets to the racing management sim may find themselves committing small mistakes that can ruin their playthrough.
10Ignoring Research Opportunities
Part of whatmakesF1 Manager 2022fans love its management aspectis how there’s a semblance of tactical strategy in the title, particularly in the form of research. However, fans of racing games may just want to get on the track on the get-go, letting fate and the machines determine their fate. However, players skipping out on research opportunities can set their team up for failure, especially when the method to do so is staring right at their faces.
At its core, the circuit information can provide a lot of useful information players may want to look into not just with the current race but for the ones in the future as well. The information included here includes pit lane time loss, tire abrasiveness, and the expected weather report. This allows players to anticipate certain things in advance and adjust accordingly. Another important way of adjusting to these parameters is car attributes, as the game may recommend certain setups based on the circuit information.
9Skipping Practice Sessions
Players confident enough with their machines candefinitely jump straight to anF1 Manager 2022race, but this leaves a lot of things to chance that players can easily control in practice sessions. For instance, players who take their drivers to practice sessions may miss out on performance bonuses that can greatly boost their driver’s performance on the road and make races easier for teams.
Players may want to secure performance bonuses a race can offer through practice sessions to avoid this caveat. Up to 15 performance bonuses can drastically improve the driver’s performance in a race. For instance, car parts knowledge is a permanent bonus that players must regularly retrain when new car parts are introduced. Likewise, track acclimatization boosts every weekend the driver spends in training. Lastly, car setup confidence boosts the driver’s startup performance.
8Not Maximizing Both Drivers
Playersjust getting intoF1 Manager 2022would be surprised to see that their team can have two drivers and two machines in a match, effectively giving two chances of scoring the coveted podium finish. However, players may often find themselves at a standstill as to whether they should have their drivers use the same strategy or split up, with a rather random decision potentially costing them the match.
In this regard, it may help players consider splitting their drivers' strategies. Remember, a driver may have separate approaches depending on tires, pit stops, and fuel consumption. Depending on the circuit, these are on top of strategies the game itself will recommend. In turn, a driver playing aggressively and one playing it safe may produce two different results, but one of them will likely be able to secure the advantage.
7Panicking In The Middle Of The Match
Players who get intoF1 Manager 2022for the first time can think of the game as an RTS mixed with racing. Instead of units, players need to monitor Formula One cars, and in place of super-weapons are the likes of pit stops to secure the advantage. However, in high-speed racing matches, a player’s racing game mindset can kick in and make them panic once the unexpected happens, such as enemies getting ahead or their driver getting in an accident.
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Players tend to panic when these things happen, leading to split-second decisions that can cost the match. Remember,F1 Manager 2022has a pause button that allows players to review everything happening in the match. Players should use this feature liberally, not just in emergencies. This is a good method of assessing which rivals to watch out for, assessing the car’s structural integrity, and the like.
6Prioritizing First Place
Anyone who’s ever watched a racing film or played a racing game knows that coming first is always the best objective, as there’s no point being the protagonist if they’re not the best, right? This isn’t the case in theF1 Manager 2022experience, as it worksmore as a Formula One simulatorthan a simple get-first racing title. While it’s tempting always to get ahead of the competition, players might do this at the cost of objectives - which can then lead to losses in the form of money or reputation.
Remember, each race inF1 Manager 2022does have Performance Targets, which teams prepare for in the Race Weekend Preparation. These include Qualifying Targets, Race Targets, and Hot Streak Targets with general monetary awards. These goals don’t always ask players to secure first place. In turn, players may want to prioritize meeting these targets first, as they’re more economical than just winning.
5Forgetting About The Safety Car
Similar to other modern racing titles where weather conditions may increase the risk element in matches,F1 Manager 2022alsogives Formula One races room for accidentsand other racing hazards due to weather and other elements. As with real-life Formula One races, cautionary periods in races may force race phases with the Safety Car, which is responsible for “slowing down” more active racers to avoid worse accidents throughout the match.
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If players ignore Safety Car phases and pit stop indicators during critical situations, their car might be put in a worse situation. This not only might make them fall behind their rivals but even halt their progression entirely. To avoid these instances, players may want to go for a pit stop session when prompted or as soon as the rain starts. Likewise, it helps to use charging mode for batteries during the safety car phase.
4Not Paying Attention To Rivals
Fans of racing games might be surprised to see thatF1 Manager 2022has a lot of value on the screen, especially after races. However, due to the nature ofF1 Manager 2022as a management sim,numbers factor into the Formula One gamemore than players think. Remember, since a majority of races could be automated via AI, players need to take note of how the numbers play into the race - especially with regard to rival teams.
For instance, players may want to check rivals' lap times and tire times close to the team’s stats. That way, players can identify if there are any intricacies to the rival team’s strategies. An example of this is how players can compare whether tire wear time correlates to the opponent’s lap speed, as high wear could indicate more pit stops.
3Ignoring The Long-Term Implications Of Drivers
Teams present in theF1 Manager 2022experience aren’t complete with just their machines, as they need capable drivers who can use these cars to their full potential. Similar to other sports management titles,F1 Manager 2022will have players not just hire and train driversbut even manage contracts and negotiate with them. However, one thing players can miss out on is that recruiting tried veterans or up-and-coming talents may drastically affect their performance in the season.
Players must remember that these kinds of drivers have their respective advantages and disadvantages, and they need to anticipate and adapt to these situations. For instance, trained veterans can indeed use machines better but are costly and retire early. Likewise, new talent may cost less and stay longer, but they need the appropriate training time and budget.
2Leaving The Pit Crew Alone
While it’s true that anF1 Manager 2022team’s race performance relies heavily on how their machines perform, their survival in any match is determined heavily bythe Formula One pit crew. After all, pit stops are both a danger and a saving grace for races, as managers need to assess whether a few seconds in the pit is worth both the car’s restored performance and potential loss of position.
The quick answer is yes, especially if the pit crew is trained properly. One of the many options inF1 Manager 2022is to train staff, particularly the pit crew, in balanced areas or specific fields. While they may come costly at first, the performance boost they provide can make a lot of difference in a match.
1Neglecting The Upgrade Specifics
Similar to games where players are in charge of upgradeable machines, thecars inF1 Manager 2022do have upgrade optionsthroughout the season. However, in the spirit of keeping things as realistic as possible, the game limits how much money teams can allot for car upgrades and how often they can test these parts throughout the season. And with a system that allows players to upgrade extremely specific aspects of their vehicle, not knowing what to upgrade and when to do so can spell failure in the long run.
In turn, players need to look into just how necessary certain upgrades are in the context of the season’s short-term and long-term aspects and their respective budgets. Players also need to factor in whether they need to improve their lesser-performing components to make the car an equal performer or continue improving winning components.
F1 Manager 2022is playable on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PS5
