Starting strong in F1 25 is more than just mashing the throttle as soon as the lights go out.
To perfect the launch, stick to a rhythm that changes slightly with grip levels, elevation, and weather.
From Silverstone to Brazil’s tricky conditions, getting the perfect launch can make all the difference between moving up the pack or losing control before the first corner.
How Should You Prepare for the Race Start?
Even before the race starts, setting the right tone with manual gears is essential, as it provides full control over timing and throttle.
Most competitive players also recommend setting your clutch to the same paddle used for gear upshifting, letting you hold the clutch naturally right up until launch.
As the lights go down, maintain about 11,600 RPM, which works best in dry, wet, and mixed conditions.
Depending on your setup, lowering revs to about 8,500 to 9,000 RPM might improve performance, notably when controlling with a gamepad or on difficult surfaces.
What’s the Right Throttle Technique at Launch?
Once the lights go out, don’t floor the gas immediately.
Instead, quickly drop the throttle by about 20% to prevent your rear tyres from lighting up with wheelspin.
That tiny dip in power gives the car just enough stability to stay straight while the clutch releases.
After that, increase the throttle steadily and assertively, trying to hit 90 percent or above within one or two seconds, but only if you know the car will hold its grip.
Why Is Short Shifting So Important?
It’s important to short-shift right away, as speeding through 1st and 2nd gear cuts traction loss, especially with a gentle throttle.
You should ideally be in 3rd or even 4th gear before you push to full throttle. When the car is under control and won't spin, switch on Overtake mode for an extra burst of power.
But timing is key: use the ERS boost too early, and you’ll likely lose grip. Use it too late, and you'll miss the jump on rivals.
Should You Keep the Wheel Straight at the Start?
Staying with the wheel locked straight during the first seconds of the launch is easy to miss but makes a huge difference.
When your car is pointing straight, both rear tyres share the traction load evenly.
Even a small turn, such as avoiding a slow AI car, can shift weight to one side, causing the other side to lose traction and result in oversteering. This is especially noticeable on slick or wet tracks.
How Does the Track Surface Shape Your Start?
The surroundings matter too, and on a flat grid like Silverstone’s, the standard approach suits all tyre types well.
At the beginning of the Downhill, elevation shifts like Austria’s reverse layout cause the suspension to lift, which lowers grip and traction. On these starts, it’s better to ease into power even more gradually than on flat terrain.
Unlike other tracks, uphill grids like Brazil’s push the suspension down, giving a better grip naturally. That means you can be a bit more aggressive with throttle build-up and reach full power faster.
What’s the Best Way to Launch in Wet Weather?
In intermediate or full wet conditions, the RPM target remains roughly the same, but throttle input has to be even more measured.
Often, you’ll only be able to safely hit full throttle in 4th gear or higher. Wheelspin in the rain punishes even small mistakes, so slower progression and absolute straight-line control are non-negotiable.
Can Settings Make or Break Your Start?
As for car setup, small adjustments can help but aren’t game-changers.
Force feedback really helps when using a wheel because it lets you sense when the car is losing grip so you can ease off the throttle just in time to regain control.
Differential settings don’t dramatically affect race starts in-game, but some players prefer setting them to 100% to maintain predictability into the first turn.
Meanwhile, controller users may want to tweak throttle linearity to around 30–50% for smoother power delivery and better grip control.
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