F1 2021: Complete Guide

A complete guide to Codemasters' F1 2021: which mode to start with, assists and how to remove them, driving and tyre fundamentals, setups, Career and My Team progression, Braking Point, and the game's current availability.

Researched September 2026 — current as of the final F1 2021 build (post-launch track updates for Portimão, Imola and Jeddah). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Status note: F1 2021 is no longer available for purchase on Steam; the store page reads "F1® 2021 is no longer available on the Steam store." If you already own it, it remains in your library and playable. The store terms say EA may retire online features after 30 days' notice on its service updates page, so check there before relying on online multiplayer. An internet connection and all updates are needed to access the final 2021 cars, the post-launch circuits and the F2 2021 season update. The current series entries are EA SPORTS F1 24 and F1 25.

Quick Start

Start with Braking Point or a short Career. Braking Point teaches the game through a story; Career lets you set a comfortable pace.
Use a controller or wheel with sensible assists, then remove them one by one.
Learn tracks in Time Trial. Fewer distractions, and you can compare against your ghost.
Tyre temperature and wear decide races. Driving smoothly on corner exit saves your rears.
Use ERS deliberately. Save battery for defending and overtaking rather than burning it everywhere.
Practice programmes in Career are worth doing. They give resource points for R&D and teach you the track.
Adjust AI difficulty after a few races so you are genuinely racing, not cruising or getting lapped.
Use flashbacks while learning. They reduce frustration and help you learn braking points.

Modes Overview

Mode	What it is
Braking Point	Story mode following Aiden Jackson from the 2019 Formula 2 season into F1 in 2020 and 2021
Career	Ten-year single-player career with an existing team
Two-player Career	New in F1 2021: two players as teammates or rivals
My Team	Create an 11th team: choose sponsor, engine supplier and teammate, then manage departments
Real-Season Start	Start Career at a point matching the real 2021 season standings
Grand Prix	Single races or custom championships
Time Trial	Hotlapping against ghosts and leaderboards
Formula 2	2020 and 2021 F2 content with short, medium or full seasons
Split-screen	Local two-player
Multiplayer	Social and Ranked races, Quick Join, Leagues and weekly events (subject to EA server status)

Braking Point

You play as Aiden Jackson, a British driver rising from the end of the 2019 F2 season into the 2020 and 2021 F1 seasons, with Dutch teammate Casper Akkerman and rival Devon Butler as the key characters. You choose your team from five: Racing Point/Aston Martin, AlphaTauri, Alfa Romeo, Haas or Williams. Scenarios ask you to hit specific objectives in shortened races, which makes it a great tutorial for overtaking, defending and tyre management.

Casual vs Expert Options

F1 2021 added Casual race options for relaxed racing and Expert options for players who want fine control. If you are new, Casual presets are fine for your first sessions.

Assists and How to Remove Them

Assist	What it does	When to turn off
Braking assist	Brakes for you	First; you need to learn braking points
Racing line	Shows ideal line and braking zones	Switch to corners-only, then off
ABS	Prevents lockups	After you are consistent without braking assist
Traction control	Limits wheelspin	Go from full to medium first; off is fastest but hardest
Gearbox	Automatic or manual	Manual is quicker once comfortable
Pit assist and ERS assist	Automates pit entry and ERS	Take control of ERS once you understand modes

A good progression: braking assist off, racing line to corners only, then manual gears, then ABS off, then traction control to medium, then off.

Driving Fundamentals

Brake in a straight line, release progressively as you turn in.
Be patient on throttle. Most spins and rear tyre overheating come from too much throttle on corner exit.
Use kerbs selectively. Some kerbs unsettle the car badly; learn which ones are safe per track.
Wet weather: brake earlier, avoid painted lines and kerbs, and use intermediates or full wets as conditions demand.
Track limits: corner cutting warnings lead to penalties; stay within the white lines.

Race Strategy

Tyres

Compound	Use
Soft	Fastest, wears quickest
Medium	Balanced
Hard	Longest life, slowest
Intermediate	Damp or drying tracks
Full wet	Heavy rain

The game's strategy screen shows recommended stints. On shorter race distances, follow the suggested strategy early; once you understand your wear, adjust pit laps.

Fuel Mix and ERS

Fuel mix: Lean, Standard and Rich. Lean saves fuel behind a car or under yellows; Rich pushes for pace.
ERS modes: use the harvest-heavy modes when cruising, the qualifying or hotlap deployment on push laps, and Overtake deployment to attack or defend on straights.
Save battery for DRS zones. Combining DRS and full deployment is how most passes stick.

Pit Stops and Undercuts

An early stop (undercut) on fresh tyres can gain position against a car on worn rubber.
Watch the pit window indicator and rival tyre ages on the HUD.

Setups

Start with the default or preset setups, then tune these:

Setting	Effect
Front and rear wing	More wing gives downforce in corners, less gives straight-line speed
Differential (on and off throttle)	Trades corner-exit rotation against traction and stability; change it in small steps and test on the same corner
Brake bias	Forward bias stabilizes braking; rearward helps rotation but risks lockups
Tyre pressures	Lower pressures reduce overheating and improve grip; higher can help top speed
Suspension and ride height	Stiffer and lower for smooth tracks and high downforce; softer for bumpy or kerb-heavy tracks

F1 2021 on PC also supports custom setup sharing through Steam.

Career and My Team Progression

Research and Development

Resource points come from practice programmes and race results.
Spend them in R&D on aero, chassis, powertrain and durability trees.
Prioritize aerodynamics and powertrain early; durability matters for longer seasons with component limits.

Practice Programmes

Practice programmes (such as track acclimatisation, tyre management, qualifying pace and race strategy tasks) reward resource points and teach you the track. F1 2021 added Quick Practice to automate them if you do not want to drive every session.

My Team

Pick a sponsor that fits your realistic goals; unmet targets reduce income.
The engine supplier choice affects your starting performance.
Department Events are new in F1 2021: scenario decisions affecting your departments. Read them carefully rather than clicking through.
Driver stats, including the new Focus stat, influence performance. Keep morale and focus up with good results and sensible decisions.
Build facilities before chasing drivers; a strong car makes any driver look good.

Real-Season Start

Start Career with real standings from a point in the 2021 season. It is ideal if you want to rewrite a specific title fight.

Tracks

The 2021 game includes the season's calendar at launch, several circuits from the real calendar that were cancelled during the pandemic years, and three circuits added in free post-launch updates: Portimão, Imola and Jeddah.

PC Features

Ray-traced visuals in race.
Support for a wide range of wheels, pedals and custom hardware.
Replay saving and exporting highlight reels to video files.
Eye-tracking support.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Racing on AI difficulty that is too high or too low. Tune it until races are close.
Burning ERS early. Arriving at a DRS zone with no battery wastes your best chance to pass.
Ignoring tyre temperatures. Overheated rears mean slower laps and faster wear.
Skipping practice programmes in Career. You lose resource points and track knowledge.
Taking a setup from an unrelated track. Downforce needs differ hugely between tracks.
Assuming online is available. The game is delisted; check EA's service updates before planning league races.

Advanced Tips

Trail-brake into slow corners to rotate the car, then open the steering before full throttle.
Short-shift on exits in low-grip conditions to reduce wheelspin.
Save fuel early with Lean mix to allow Rich mix at the end or during a battle.
Defend smartly: one move, cover the inside, keep ERS for exits.
Use Time Trial ghosts from faster players to find braking points you are missing.
Two-player Career is a great way to learn with a friend: compare telemetry and lines between race weekends.

FAQ

Can I still buy F1 2021? Not on Steam; the store page says it is no longer available. Existing owners can still download and play.

Is F1 2021 online still working? Check EA's service updates page for the current status before relying on multiplayer. Offline modes are unaffected by server status.

Who are the Braking Point characters? Aiden Jackson (you), teammate Casper Akkerman and rival Devon Butler.

Which tracks were added after launch? Portimão, Imola and Jeddah, as free updates.

How does two-player Career work? Two players share a Career, either as teammates or as rivals; it was new in F1 2021.

Which team should I pick in Braking Point? It is a story choice rather than a difficulty setting. Pick whichever of the five (Racing Point/Aston Martin, AlphaTauri, Alfa Romeo, Haas, Williams) you want to follow; the objectives are what make each scenario hard or easy.

Do I need to be online to play? Not for offline modes, but you need an internet connection and all game updates to get the final 2021 cars, the added circuits and the F2 2021 content.

Should I play F1 2021 or a newer game? F1 2021 is a strong entry with Braking Point and solid handling. If you want current seasons and live features, the newer EA SPORTS F1 games are the supported option.