F1 Manager 2022 is not afraid of data

F1 Manager 2022 is not afraid of data

We finally get a good look at F1 Manager 2022, Frontier Developments' first foray into motorsport management and it looks like it's embracing the toughness of the track.

For fans of the technical side of Formula 1, Frontier Developments has created a game that is bound to delight. It seems there will be no end to the data you can mine to uncover an edge in every race. The trailer shown at the PC Gaming Show (Opens in a new tab) uses examples like grip analysis reports from upcoming tracks, which you can then use to set tire windows for your drivers, putting together a schedule that will keep them on the track as long as possible before making a pit stop.

Take a look yourself:

Of course, one of the joys of F1 is the way the sport shows how the best laid plans will rarely survive the shock of race day. Unpredictable weather conditions can change the surface of a track requiring tire changes, then there are mid-road collisions that force cars off the road. All of this is featured in F1 Manager 2022, where you'll need to make calls on the fly to keep your drivers on track and compete at peak performance.

According to the dev diary, you can give your riders instructions mid-race, such as telling them to fix their tires, manage battery usage, or go on the attack. But he can also issue more controversial orders, such as telling a driver to refrain from racing a teammate, an instruction that is sure to have an impact on the track for team morale.

Head of F1 2022

(Image credit: Border Developments)

Outside of racing, you will control every aspect of your team. It will hire staff to work on its research and engineering teams, developing new parts for its cars; you will explore the lower leagues, looking to recruit talented drivers to lead your team to victory; and in the meantime, you'll need to keep control of your team's finances.

Given the attention to detail in Planet Coaster, it's no surprise that Frontier captured such an accurate view of motorsport in F1 Manager 2022, but it's reassuring to see it in action nonetheless.

We won't have to wait too long to get our hands on the game either, as early access to F1 Manager 2022 will kick off on August 25.