Hey folks, it’s your guy again, back with another gaming setup guide. Today, we’re diving into F1 23, and more specifically, how to get your car dialed in for the tricky streets of Baku. This track is a beast, with its long straights and tight corners, so having the right setup is crucial if you want to stay out of the walls and on the podium.
First, I launched the game, and boy, was I pumped to get racing in Baku. I selected the time trial mode because I wanted to really focus on the setup without worrying about other cars. Then I hopped into my favorite ride, the Red Bull car, and hit the track.
Aerodynamics
- Front Wing Aero: I started with the front wing. Initially, I set it to around 25. I figured this would give me a good balance between downforce for the corners and straight-line speed.
- Rear Wing Aero: For the rear wing, I went a bit higher, around 30, to help keep the back end planted, especially through those fast, sweeping turns.
After a few laps, I realized I needed more turn-in response. The car felt a bit sluggish in the slower corners. So, I bumped up the front wing to around 28. This definitely helped, but I was losing a bit too much speed on the straights. I messed around a few times. I lowered the rear wing to 28, and then things started to click.
Transmission
- Differential Adjustment On Throttle: This one is important for managing how the power is delivered to the rear wheels. I started with 55% and that felt good. The car was stable on corner exits.
- Differential Adjustment Off Throttle: This is for when you’re coasting into the corners. I set it to 50% to help with rotation.
No major adjustments were needed here. The initial settings were pretty much spot on. This area is kind of set it and forget it.
Suspension Geometry
- Front Camber: I set this to -2.50, which is the standard minimum.
- Rear Camber: Standard -2.00 here as well.
- Front Toe: I went with 0.00 for maximum straight-line speed.
- Rear Toe: I set this to 0.20 to help with stability.
I did try a little more negative camber in the front, but it made the car too twitchy. The standard camber settings are a good starting point.
Suspension
- Front Suspension: I used 21, which is about the middle point between the softest and hardest setting.
- Rear Suspension: I used 6, the lowest setting possible.
- Front Anti-Roll Bar: I used 7, again in the middle ground.
- Rear Anti-Roll Bar: I used 1. I kept it at the minimum setting.
- Front Ride Height: I went with 35.
- Rear Ride Height: I used 40, a little higher than the front to help with turn-in.
This is where I spent the most time tweaking. I initially had the suspension too soft, which made the car feel floaty and unresponsive. I went back and forth a lot on the ride height. Too low, and I was bottoming out. Too high, and the car felt like it was on stilts. Finally, I found that sweet spot, and the car felt planted and responsive.
Brakes
- Brake Pressure: I cranked this up to 100%. You need strong brakes for those heavy braking zones.
- Front Brake Bias: I set it to 55%, a standard setting.
No big changes here. Maybe I moved the brake bias forward a bit, but it didn’t really make much difference, in my experience.
Tyres
- Front Right Tyre Pressure: I set it at 23.0 psi.
- Front Left Tyre Pressure: I set it at 23.0 psi, same as the front right.
- Rear Right Tyre Pressure: I went with 20.5 psi.
- Rear Left Tyre Pressure: I set it at 20.5 psi, the same as the rear right.
I experimented with lower tyre pressures, but it made the car feel too sluggish. I also tried higher pressures, but that made the tyres overheat too quickly. The standard settings are a good compromise.
After hours of tweaking and testing, I finally got a setup that I was happy with. The car felt fast, responsive, and stable. I was able to push it to the limit without feeling like I was going to lose control. It took a lot of trial and error, but it was worth it. Now, I can confidently say that I’ve tamed the beast that is Baku. At least in F1 23, haha. Give this setup a try, and let me know what you think. This is just a starting point, of course. Feel free to adjust it to your own driving style. Happy racing!
