F1® 25: 2026 SEASON EDITION MASTER SETUP, ASSISTS & TRACK GUIDE

Whether you're stepping into an F1® cockpit for the very first time or looking to shave those extra tenths off your lap time, mastering the 2026 cars* requires a balance of control, smart battery management, and strategic track knowledge.

To help you get up to speed, we’re going to cover everything from 2026 power unit ERS management and setup progression to assist removal.

2026 Car Tips: General ERS & Boost Management

The 2026 technical regulations deliver an incredible boost in electric output, featuring three times the electric power of previous generations while retaining the same battery size. Because of this power spike, strategic energy deployment is vital.

The battery drains rapidly under full deployment, so toggling ERS manually demands precision. 

We strongly recommend changing your ERS Activation Mode in the controller/wheel settings from Toggle to Hold. This ensures boost is deployed only while the button is held.

The most effective deployment technique is using short one-to-two second bursts in 4th or 5th gear when exiting slow corners into long straights. Additionally, keep in mind the safety-based power taper rule: after releasing the boost button, power reduces at a rate of ~100–150 kW/s. This means electric deployment continues for up to 3.5 seconds after release, making even brief button taps highly effective.

Driving Assists & Progression Guide

Finding the right balance of driving assists helps you build speed without feeling overwhelmed.

A solid baseline for beginners is running Traction Control (TC) on Medium and Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) On. When you're ready to start stripping assists away for extra control and pace, follow this recommended order of progression:

1. First to Remove: Braking Assist and Cornering Assist. Turning these off gives you more control over the car and helps you carry momentum through corners.
2. Second Step: Change the Dynamic Racing Line setting to Corners Only, before eventually turning it off entirely to learn visual braking points.
3. Third Step: Reduce Traction Control from Full down to Medium and then Off. Note that Medium TC offers a great balance, and many drivers remain blisteringly fast even on Full TC.

Camera Settings for Maximum Precision

Choosing the right perspective is essential for feeling connected to the chassis and hitting your apexes consistently.

While camera perspective comes down to personal comfort, TV Pod (TCAM) remains the standard choice for clear visibility over the front wing and track limits. For competitive precision, consider lowering the Camera Shake intensity setting; reducing movement creates a more stable horizon, making it easier to hit precise turn-in points.  Finally, adjust your Field of View (FOV) slider according to your screen size and distance.

Career Mode: Entry Advice for Beginners

Selecting where to start your racing career dictates the slope of your learning curve.

• Beginner / Easy Starting Point: Sign with a top-tier team. Driving a competitive car lets you focus on core driving mechanics rather than fighting setup imbalances.
• Moderate Challenge: Choose a mid-table team to balance point finishes with ongoing development goals.
• Hardcore Challenge: Select My Team Career. You will start at the very back of the grid, managing R&D budgets, facility upgrades, and technical development decisions from scratch.

AI Difficulty Calibration

Setting the right AI difficulty ensures engaging wheel-to-wheel battles without uncompetitive frustration.

When setting up your AI difficulty slider for the first time, make adjustments in increments of 5 points. Once you are within the competitive range of your teammate, fine-tune the difficulty by 1 to 2 points per circuit, as individual driver skill varies across technical, street, or high-speed tracks. Note that AI strength adjustments should be finalized between race weekends.

Car Setup Progression & General Advice

When adjusting car setups, making too many changes simultaneously makes it impossible to pinpoint what improved handling.

Always tweak one or two settings at a time before heading out on track to evaluate the impact. Use this general priority hierarchy when building a setup:

• Aerodynamics (Wings): The most impactful adjustment. Adding front wing or trimming rear wing shifts car balance toward oversteer while increasing top speed.
• Anti-Roll Bars (ARBs): Controls low-speed chassis roll and balance.
• Springs: Fine-tunes rear traction. Running a softer rear spring or rear ARB adds rear grip; stiffer settings increase responsiveness but reduce overall rear stability.

Default setups are intentionally engineered to be safe and understeer-biased. As your confidence grows, shift toward more aggressive aero and stiffer mechanical setups.

In-Race Brake Balance Adjustments

Brake Bias is one of the most effective tools you can adjust on the fly using your Multi-Function Display (MFD) or assigned controller shortcuts.

• Forward Brake Bias (e.g., 56%–58%): Ideal for heavy, straight-line braking zones like Turn 1 at Madrid. It provides maximum stopping power and stability under heavy deceleration.
• Rearward Brake Bias (e.g., 52%–54%): Suited for soft, trail-braking zones like Turn 16 at Madrid. Shifting bias rearward turns the car into the corner more effectively, though it carries a risk of rear lock-ups and spins near walls.
• Tire Wear Adjustment: As rear tires degrade during a stint, move your brake bias slightly forward to prevent the rears from locking up into heavy braking zones.

EA SPORTS™ F1® 25 is available now across PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

*Not available in F1 25 base game. Requires F1 25: 2026 Season Edition or 2026 Season Pack (sold separately).