How to Master Manual Gear Shifting in F1 23

by Fernando Diaz / Articles, F1 (Formula One) / 10 Jul 2020

Manual Gears 101

First off, what exactly are manual gears? Simply put, manual gears involve you, the driver, changing your gears manually while you’re racing, just like a real-world Formula One driver would. This authentic approach can have you changing gears up to 100 times per lap, so it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted.

Of course, F1 23 gives you the choice to set your gears to automatic, where the game handles gear shifts for you. This feature is quite handy, especially for beginners who are still familiarizing themselves with the racing lines and competitors. But if you’re seeking an adrenaline-fueled, authentic racing experience, disabling automatic gear shift is the way forward.

Disabling Automatic Gears

How do you switch from automatic to manual, you ask? Easy. Just head over to the settings menu – you can do this from a mid-race pause or from the main screen. Once you’re in the settings, navigate to the assist menu where you’ll see a list of driver assists you can enable or disable. Just scroll down until you find the gearbox option, and select manual. Voila! You’re now in control of your gear shifts.

Why Manual Gears?

But why bother with manual gears? Well, racing in manual mode generally proves faster than automatic. It hands you full control over when to change gears, helping you optimize performance. For instance, you can downshift faster than automatic to slow your car using engine braking or short-shift during acceleration to minimize wheel spin. These control elements are lost in automatic mode, where gear shifts are based on the game’s calculations of the ‘best’ time to shift.

Mastering Upshifting & Downshifting

Now, onto the nitty-gritty – how to change gears. When it comes to upshifting, you’ll want to pay attention to your red bar on the HUD or the Rev lights if you’re using a racing wheel. As you accelerate, these lights will light up. Once all the lights are lit (sometimes even flashing), that’s your cue to change up a gear.

Keep an eye on the RPM readout next to your Rev lights. The sweet spot for gear changes in F1 23 falls around 11.5 to 12,000 RPM. You can also rely on audio cues, such as the engine’s pitch and an optional audio beep in the settings, to know when to shift gear. However, make sure to shift before hitting the rev limiter to avoid damaging your gearbox and losing precious time.

Downshifting is the trickier part, mainly due to the rapid gear changes needed as you brake into a corner. Get it wrong, and you could lose performance or spin out. The red lights on your HUD can again serve as a guide, going out as you decelerate. The moment all the lights are out, you should shift down.

But, with the fast-paced action of downshifting, it can be tough to keep an eye on your red bar while braking and cornering. So, my advice is to feel the rhythm of downshifting. You’ll typically start by downshifting rapidly from a high gear, then slowing the downshift pace as your car decelerates.

Advanced Shifting Techniques

Once you’re comfortable with manual gears, you can further optimize your performance using advanced shifting techniques. ‘Short-shifting’, for instance, involves changing gears earlier than the optimal range. This technique dulls the engine’s power but helps prevent wheel spin during acceleration from slow speeds or in low-grip scenarios.

On the flip side, holding onto gears longer than usual can be beneficial when approaching a corner or accelerating through one. This method prevents unsettling your car’s balance, which can happen when you shift gears mid-corner.

Lastly, early downshifts can activate engine braking, where the engine’s rotation limits how fast the rear wheels spin. This technique can help you decelerate faster and shorten your braking distance.

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Fernando Diaz

Fernando is doing what he always did, sharing his honest opinions about games whenever he can. The difference is now he is writing and not talking about it.
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