Frontier’s newest racing management simulation, F1 Manager 2024, places a strong emphasis on authenticity, providing an exceptionally realistic and highly engaging experience for fans of Formula 1.
The core loop of any management simulator centers on effectively managing resources and making strategic decisions as events unfold. This is an area where this title has excelled.
Even though I was inexperienced in management games, my passion for F1 and extensive experience with racing titles allowed me to thoroughly enjoy every challenge presented in this preview version of F1 Manager 24.
Create a Team
I dedicated majority of my time to experimenting with the new Create a Team feature. This is a novel addition to F1 Manager, with an incredibly thorough level of detail.
In this mode, you begin with a brand new team and face off against the 10 existing teams that you typically encounter on the track.
Your decisions regarding the amount of funds and quality of resources available, as well as the selection of your drivers, will significantly impact your performance throughout the season.
Having the opportunity to establish a team from the ground up and strive for a championship was extremely invigorating as it presented a brand new experience and required me to consider more than just the racing aspect.
Not knowing what to expect from the game, I decided to select two AI-generated drivers and team them up with two experienced race engineers. This is when I was first introduced to the Mentality System.
Your home screen will give you an overview of all the important information.
Mentality System
The Mentality System has a significant impact on your team’s performance on the track and during contract negotiations. As I had selected two inexperienced AI-generated drivers, my race engineers had a lower Mentality score due to their lack of confidence in the drivers. This consequently affected the car’s setup and the team’s performance throughout the race weekends.
As I navigated through the game, I made sure to consider both the driver and team morale as important factors. It was a welcomed challenge to continuously motivate everyone, and the well-designed Mentality System added an element of surprise to the game. Without it, the game would have felt mundane.
Within the Sponsorship management system, you have the option to choose your desired sponsor and set the corresponding objectives based on the required amount of funding. After completing this process, you will be ready for your first race weekend in Bahrain.
Race Weekends
The race weekend segment remains the same as it was in the previous game, but with additional features. Prior to the practice runs, I dedicated a significant amount of time to fine-tune the performance setup of both cars.
During the races, I had the chance to try out F1 Manager 24’s latest addition – the mechanical failure feature. In addition to keeping an eye on tire wear and fuel consumption, one must also monitor the ERS, gearbox, and engine. The ever-present risk of mechanical issues and gradual part deterioration added an extra layer of realism and unpredictability to each race.
Due to this, not only did my car struggle to reach the desired position, but I also couldn’t complete the race as it ran out of fuel during the final lap.
You can adjust your car’s performance and handling before heading out for the practice sessions.
In addition to the mechanics, the game also offers various camera options such as the heli-cam. This feature gave me the sensation of being in the front row at an actual race. The level of control over my team’s every detail was incredibly satisfying, making it even more rewarding when we placed on the podium.
Affiliate drivers
The overall experience is enhanced by the addition of the affiliate driver system, which allows you to include upcoming drivers in your team. While these drivers typically compete in the F2 and F3 divisions, they are available to drive for your team during practice runs.
In the career mode, you will have access to a default roster of affiliate drivers. However, in the Create a Team mode, you can scout and recruit additional drivers as your team gains popularity and expands.
The choice of powertrain will affect the performance of your vehicle.
While some may perceive curating a group of affiliate drivers as unimportant, it ultimately contributes to the satisfaction and pride one feels when they are eventually promoted to the main team and achieve success on the podium.
In general, Frontier’s F1 Manager 24 offers a satisfying experience that can be enjoyed by both newcomers and enthusiasts of management simulation.
Each choice I made, whether it was selecting the sponsors or determining the level of intensity I wanted my drivers to have during a race, had a significant influence on the races, effectively capturing the exhilarating highs and challenging lows of motorsport.
Despite the potentially overwhelming level of detail, it offers a satisfying challenge for those seeking to experience the intense pressure of running a top F1 team. After getting a glimpse, I am eagerly anticipating the July 23, 2024 release date to continue testing different strategies and vying for the championship.
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