Question regarding Tyre Wear and Qualifying Strategy

[Eofkent]

I'm a F1 newbie, so please excuse my ignorance.

I am playing career (25% race length) and I got the pole position. But apparently, I have to start on my heavily worn tyres. This means I have to pit twice instead of once? I'm not sure what my strategy should be then, because there is no way to win a race where I am pitting twice and the AI are pitting once. Should I not bother to qualify well? I'm not at all sure how to strategize. Any help would be appreciated, and thank you.

[Eofkent]

I should note....

I am not complaining about the speed of tyre wear. I find that challenging and ok. I'm not sure how to handle starting a race on worn tyres.

[SecondBestOne]

You should aim to set your fastest lap (in qualifying) on tyres that are not so heavily worn, therefore you start the race on less worn tyres - I'd advise to only go for about 2-4 lap runs and don't use any tyres for a potentially faster run (i.e. you might get pole position) if they have started to wear. Hope this helps :)

[Andy.G]

Do you drive 1 hotlap in quali or more laps...?

[Eofkent]

Oh I see. That is really cool. I may actually start watching F1 as a result, I never considered how much strategy is involved. Thanks!

[Eofkent]

I drive a "short weekend" with "short qualifying." So I should try one or two laps, set a fast time, then pit and wait it out? Also, I'm assuming I should try and qualify on option tyres?

[Andy.G]

and dont push the tyres in the in- and out laps in quali, saving saving saving ^^

[ArmeniusLOD]

The rule in Formula 1 is if you qualify in the top 10 you have to start on the tyres you set your fastest lap in Q3 on.

[Eofkent]

I will try to more clearly state my question.

First, I am trying to get into F1 but do not know much about it. I love the game and I have read everything I can get my hands on about the sport after having watched "Senna."



However, I am in such a state of confusion about qualifying strategy I am almost ready to give up on the game.



I am playing Career and have qualifying set to "Short-weekend - Short sessions." I understand the basic rules involved about q1-q3. With my current settings is each quarter divided by 5 min because the setting is a 15 min qualifying session?



Here is my issue: when I qualify well I am forced to start the race on worn tires and since I am doing 25% season length, that means I have to pit twice. All AI cars pit once, so with pitting twice I can never ever finish well.



Can someone please give me a basic qualifying strategy to both qualify well and save on tires? I am so frustrated I am ready to quit.



I am sorry for not fully understanding the sport. I do understand the tire wear rules, just not the strategy not having watched the sport on TV (which I intend to remedy shortly).



Thank you

[Eofkent]

Also, how do I even know which Q I am in, there is no on-screen indicator. Again, I understand the basic real F1 strategy (I tried to do my homework) but I do not know how it scales down in "short-weekend short-qualifying." Since it is only a 15 minute session are there 3 short Q's or is there only one? I ask this because I tried what you said. I went out, did about three laps, set a decent time, hit the pits with over five minutes remaing then went out again and just drove slowly around the track. My tires were blue when I pulled into the pits for the final time, yet I began the race with orange tires.



I should say, I'm not complaining about tire wear as others, and truly enjoy the challenge and simulation. I just can't find a way to start a race on anything but worn tires.

[Mater's Mate]

Ok. Basicaly if you quallify in the top 10, you will start on the tyres you set your fastest lap on. You cannot change these. So if you get into the top 10, try to do 1 flying lap. Do not use the same tyres if you are not happy with the lap time or your grid position. Pit , change tyres & try again. I usually use Primes in Q1 to get in to last 16. Use 1 set of Options to get into top 10 ( 1 flying lap) then same again in the top 10 shoot out. If I only quallify in 10th then that is what I settle for and save the tyres. If you quallify outside top 10 you can change your tyre choice whilst in the garage before race start. The AI do seem to have a lot longer tyre life which is annoying but you can still beat them if you think about the race as a whole & not by lap by lap speeds. Good luck & if I figure out a way to save tyre life I will post it

[N I C K]

Pirelli Has trouble with the tyre in this season right now,the codesmasters actually use that tyre wear degradation on f1 2013,thats way youre very hard to maintain the tyre,i feel frustated about that too,but this is true,pirelli got some trouble on the tyre degradation,i manage to get pole position,and i got in the first place,but then after 5 lap my tyre lose its grip just like you

[Mater's Mate]

Eofkent. I just read you post again. Are you asking about the quallifying rules? If so then it is quite easy. Quallifying is divided into 3 parts Q1, Q2 & Q3. Q1 lasts for 20 mins & all cars can take part. You can use as many tyres as are available & any type. Dont do this though as you will need these tyres for the rest of qually & the race. At the end of Q1 the slowest 6 cars are out & cannot take part in Q2 or Q3. Q2 is 15 mins and the same rules apply as in Q1. At the end of Q2 the slowest 6 cars are out & cannot take part in Q3 (the top 10 shoot out) In Q3 you can again use what ever tyre you like, but the ones in which you set you fastest time in Q3 will be the ones you start the race on, whether you changed them in Q3 for another set or not. The only exception to this is if it is raining in quallifying or at the start of the race, then you can choose which tyre you prefer to start on. Just remember though that any wear on the tyres will still be there on race day so look after them & do as few laps as you can to quallify

[Eofkent]

Thank you for all the comments. I'm am figuring this out, little by little (not knowing a ton about F1) and am constantly suprised by the advanced strategy.

I just figured out that on short-weekends/short-qualifying there is only ONE Q, there is no q1-3. This helped once I realized this fact.

[Fulcrum]

Originally posted by Eofkent:

Thank you for all the comments. I'm am figuring this out, little by little (not knowing a ton about F1) and am constantly suprised by the advanced strategy.

I just figured out that on short-weekends/short-qualifying there is only ONE Q, there is no q1-3. This helped once I realized this fact.

In a 15 min single session quali, I'll often go out on Primes and set a single hotlap (to have one on the board and get my eye in on the track conditions) and then pit for options.

In sessions where quali is in 3 sessions, if you think you can make the cut, try to get through Q1 on primes - it sets you up great for longer race career modes where having a finite number of tyre sets in a weekend becomes more of an issue. But it does depend on how deep you get into it.

Glad you are enjoying!