Summary
F1 Manager 24is the latest installment in the relatively newF1 Managerseries. Rather than racing from inside the cockpit, thissports management gameputs players in the role of a team principal. Charged with managing all operations of an F1 team from car development to in-race decisions, the job of a team principal has plenty to offer and to overcome. Players can choose from one of the current grid teams or create their own in a brand-new “Create A Team” mode.
One of the first decisions players will need to make, along with theirdriver line-up and livery design, is the engine that will be used to power the cars for the remainder of the season. Unlike regular components, engines cannot be changed or altered mid-season. Any engine reliability issues can result in mechanical failures and DNFs, which are increasingly prevalent in this year’s edition. As a result, players must choose an engine with attributes that will favor their particular plans for their team.
4Renault
A Relatively Basic Engine With An Advantage In Fuel Consumption
The Renault power unit is the weakest in the game, though it does come with the strongest fuel efficiency. This enables drivers to drive at a faster, more aggressive pace, though it can be a double-edged sword as the Renault engine’s durability can cause it to suffer as a result. It will take several car upgrades to see improvements with this engine, and it may struggle to be competitive as otherteams continue development throughout the season.
The strong fuel efficiency also does little to prevent tire degradation, which will certainly be a factor when pushing at a higher race pace. Overall, it is probably best to avoid this engine unless players are looking for a serious challenge. The likelihood of DNFs is high with this engine, especially due to the abysmal gearbox durability. This can cost a lot of points in the long run, as well as money to replace the broken parts.
3Ferrari
A Solid Engine With A Balance Of Issues And Benefits
The Ferrari engine is a great all-round engine, and one of themost powerful along the straights, which can provide a big advantage on many tracks. The main drawback of the Ferrari engine is its gearbox durability - the weakest of any available power unit. Fortunately, this can be addressed with gearbox upgrades throughout the season and can actually give players a clear development path to follow. However, expect a high risk of mechanical failures until this flaw has been addressed.
Overall, this engine can provide a great base to start from, though durability will become more and more of an issue as the season progresses unless it is fixed. The car will have a very competitive straight-line speed capable of challenging both Mercedes and Honda RBPT-powered cars. While not perfect by any means, the Ferrari engine is significantly better than the Renault but falls short of the other options in certain respects.
2Honda RBPT
A Fast And Powerful Engine With Some ERS Difficulties
While the Red Bull engine was significantly better than its rivals in previous seasons, it has suffered slightly this year as a result of regulation changes. The main weakness of this power unit is its ERS durability, which can lead to problems with charging and energy deployment. While this may not lead to an all-out mechanical failure, issues with the ERS system can cost valuable lap time,particularly when battling wheel-to-wheel.
While this engine may require improvement over time, it will still be competitive from the get-go and particularly excels along straights. The advantage of this is thatother components of the carcan be improved to speed up cornering, giving the Honda RBPT-powered cars an advantage when it comes to development. While it may require a bit more hands-on management when it comes to ERS issues, the RBPT gives players a lot of freedom when it comes to the development of the rest of their cars.
1Mercedes
The Best All-Round Engine With Strengths In Most Areas
The Mercedes engine, which powers the Mercedes, McLaren, and Williams teams, is arguably the best overall choice inF1 Manager 24for several reasons. While the power may be slightly inferior to both the Red Bull and Ferrari units, it has the best overall stats in terms of durability, with the only real downside being its poor fuel efficiency. Fortunately, this can be managed by simply changing the aggression levels of a driver during a race, andwill not require dramatic investmentinto a series of upgrades.
For newer players looking to be competitive from the start, rather than having to spend a season or two in development, the Mercedes engine is the best way to go. This won’t guarantee immediate results, but the problems it presents are the easiest to manage in comparison with the other engine choices. Straight-line speed may become an issue for this engine, so it is worth thinking aboutrear-wing and sidepod upgradesto counter-balance it.
