EA Sports F1 24 tweaks details, starting with physics and handling

The 2024 Formula 1 season started a few months ago, giving millions of people a reason to get excited about the ultimate motorsport competition every weekend. As usual with sports games, a new edition reflecting the new season is on its way. Before its release, we had the opportunity to attend one of the presentations related to the next version, developed by Codemasters and published by EA Sports. On this occasion and as part of a series of related previews, we started with the physics and handling improvements that EA Sports F1 24 will present.

Where the rubber meets the road

Lee Mather, Senior Creative Director and a veteran of Codemasters and the F1 series, and Casey Ringley, Senior Game Designer and Vehicle Handling Lead, gave us a first-hand look at the improvements and tweaks that will be made to the cars in this new release.

One of the most important parts of any racing game is the control and realism that the player feels when entering a race. These tweaks are, according to Mather, “a culmination of several significant updates to the series” that they hope will help recreate the authentic experience of driving an F1 car, all powered by EA Sports Dynamic Handling.

Suspension Kinematics

One of the most robust changes in this update. In a nutshell, this adjustment will have a more significant impact on how the weight distribution of the car feels, making it more realistic and responsive.

This will be seen in both F1 and F2 car models, with dynamic changes to camber gain, toe change, gross centers, and more. This change is accompanied by a series of realistic steering geometries that help players feel the balance changes as they drive, as well as changes that more closely resemble how the cars actually work. This is in addition to the improved chassis characteristics, which will now have a more realistic center of mass, which will be noticeable during moments of inertia. This ultimately helps to give the player more control and makes the steering more responsive.

Improved Tyre Model

As the car changes, so do the tires. In this area, both the tire and temperature models have undergone significant changes to reflect what happens in the real sport. These changes bring improvements to have more realistic grip in the corners, as well as having a greater influence on how heat affects the performance and durability of the tires depending on their temperature. This, combined with the fact that the weather also affects both the control and cooling effects of the tires on a wet track, gives the player more control over their pit strategy.

Full screen

Improved Aerodynamics

One of the ways to achieve more realism is to improve the aerodynamics. Adjustments in this category, by taking better account of the inclination of the chassis, have resulted in more realistic drift and DRS effects that are more effective in some cars than in others. This was achieved by using computational fluid dynamics and a virtual wind tunnel to create a more natural response from the cars. According to Casey Ringley, this makes it easier to see the strengths and weaknesses of the teams depending on the type of track.

Upgraded Power Unit

Finally, we have the last of the improvements that include engine braking, which affects the handling of the car, and energy harvesting through an improved ERS model that allows for more realistic energy flows, giving you better control of energy management through throttle inputs alone.

Full screen

F1 24 will be released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 31 for those who purchase the standard version, or on May 28 for those who purchase the Champions Edition, which provides early access to the game.