Whatever tactics you have in mind for a grand prix can’t be fed into the game without a proper controller setup. With F1 25, you have to opt for the finest settings to master the game smoothly. Ideal configurations not only increase your command over the car and maximize your track performance, but also boost your confidence and focus to win countless grand prix races with ease.
Although previous F1 titles follow similar control trends, the latest entry requires some crucial adjustments so your car can behave according to the newer mechanics. That said, I bring you the best F1 25 controller settings that can help you control your car better and make rapid decisions.
Best F1 25 Controller Settings
The ideal controller settings for PlayStation, Xbox, or PC mean an optimized button layout that offers quick controls and easy access that isn’t limited to just one track. For that, tweaking controls that are often challenging to reach is necessary, so you never miss out on split-second opportunities.
Here are the controller settings you should embrace:
F1 25 Assist Settings
Using assists doesn’t always mean you lack skills, since playing with a controller is a different experience than hooking up a full-on racing wheel. It’s vital for someone who is learning the game to keep some of the assists enabled for the sake of better lap times and overall control of the car. Once maintaining traction, braking, and throttle work is on your fingertips, you can always turn off the assists. The following are the adjustments perfect for a controller:
- Driving Proficiency: Custom
- Steering Assist: Off
- Braking Assist: Low
- Anti-Lock Brakes: On
- Traction Control: Medium
- Dynamic Racing Line: Corners Only
- Dynamic Racing Line Type: 2D
- Color Blind Mode (Dynamic Racing Line): Off
- Hi-Vis Racing Line: Off
- Gearbox: Automatic
- Pit Assist: Off
- Pit Release Assist: On
- ERS Assist: Off
- DRS Assist: On
If you notice these settings, the Steering and Braking Assist are off. This helps maintain pinpoint accuracy throughout tight corners and speedy turns. However, these can also increase the risk of oversteering, and for that, the Medium Traction Control will come to the rescue by preventing the rear end from slipping. If you still find the Medium challenging, try cranking it to Full, though it can result in understeer. Similarly, with Pit Assist disabled, it can be a little difficult to manage, but it’s necessary as you won’t lose much time while entering the Pit Lane. Just don’t be too hasty, or you will pay the price with race-changing penalties.
The Gearbox is set to Automatic for this setup, so you can learn the pattern and know the exact points for perfect shifts. Once you crack the code, switching to Manual with Suggested Gear will not only qualify you as an experienced player but also provide an edge for speed management. Since ERS plays a vital role in overtaking by providing an extra boost from the battery, I suggest you turn its assist off for tactical utilization, but try not to deplete it too much, or you’ll have no juice when the right opportunity arrives.
Since memorizing every track on the F1 calendar isn’t an easy task, the Dynamic Racing Line is here to make things simpler. It will guide you to the optimal path and reduce pressure on unfamiliar courses. Here, I have chosen Corner Only so you can only see the line during a turn, decreasing distractions throughout the rest of the track.
F1 25 Calibration Settings
The new calibration changes in F1 25 have made it better than ever; it now aims for a fluid steering experience while minimizing sharp actions. The game is now intelligent enough to detect how much pressure you put on the buttons as well, which can impact your gameplay through unintentional inputs.
To prevent that, adjusting calibration settings is crucial and sometimes compulsory if your gamepad is worn enough to pose issues. By using the “Test Buttons” feature, it’s recommended that you check your triggers and sticks and manually adjust dead zones if something feels fishy. That said, below are the generalised calibration settings I recommend for F1 25:
- Steering Rate: 130%
- Steering Deadzone: 0
- Steering Linearity: 40
- Steering Saturation: 35
- Throttle Deadzone: 0
- Throttle Linearity: 0
- Throttle Saturation: 0
- Brake Deadzone: 0
- Brake Linearity: 0
- Brake Saturation: 0
F1 Control Scheme Settings
The whole controller layout for the game will remain the same, although I recommend a handful of changes in the name of accessibility and fluidity. Below are the necessary alterations:
- Unassign the Look Forward, Look Back, Look Right, and Look Left functions. Now, reassign the Look Back option to pressing the Left Stick so you can have a quick sneak peek of what’s happening behind your car as you go 200+ MPH.
- With the rest of the buttons, assign Left Stick left to Brake Bias Increase, Right Stick right to Brake Bias Decrease, Up Stick to Differential Increase, and Down Stick to Differential Decrease.
This will help you quickly alter the strategy when needed.
F1 25 Vibration & Force Feedback Settings
- Vibration & Force Feedback: On
- Vibration & Force Feedback Strength: 150
- On Track Effects: 60
- Rumble Strip Effects: 30
- Off-Track Effects: 30
- Pit Stop Effects: 50
- Wheel Damper: 50
- Maximum Wheel Rotation: 360 degrees
With vibration and force feedback, it’s easier to tell what your car is going through, especially in the matter of tire wear when it starts to lose grip. For the most accurate approach, I have cranked the Vibration & Force Feedback Strength to the max with a high priority for On Track Effects. But keep in mind that other settings should also be altered to ensure that the feedback remains as authentic as possible; otherwise, exaggeration will only create distractions throughout the race.
Similarly, Rumble Strip Effects and Off-Track Effects should be kept at reasonable levels for an immersive yet peaceful experience. While for Wheel Rotation, crank it to a lower value so you can take corners pretty precisely with zero risk of spinning out.
F1 25 Generic Controller Settings
Although the usage of adaptive triggers in the game feels generic, F1 25 allows players to tweak them to mimic a real-life paddle, so you can taste a bit of realism while holding a normal game controller. While these additions sound interesting, it may be awkward for some. That’s why you should make a couple of adjustments.
- MFD Car Setup Panel: Default
- Overtake ERS Mode: Toggle
- Adaptive Triggers: Medium
- Logitech True Force Intensity: 100
With these settings mastered, you can expect a night a day difference in your gameplay. While these settings offer a good generalized canvas, it’s fine to leave a couple of things unchanged for the sake of personal preference. Take an example of the Steering Rate, if a higher value isn’t suiting your playstyle because you have a heavy thumb, keeping a lower rate will work better as it will even things up before you oversteer into barriers.
The final thing I want to mention is that practice is the key; once you become the devil behind the wheel, no one can stop you from going full hammer mode. So go out there, put in the time, and break a few lap records on high-speed circuits such as the Canadian and Spanish Grand Prix.
