F1
Grosjean dives into simracing and delivers his verdict on F1 2020 gaming
When you first launch the official video game of the Formula 1, the software asks you to create a profile with your last name, first name and permanent race number. A priori, the stage poses no problem for the average person. On the other hand, if you are the holder on the grid, you will have to be cunning. Romain Grosjean experienced it again when testing the 2020 version of the license operated by Codemasters.
“I have to find nicknames because Romain Grosjean is already taken, laughs the Frenchman during our telephone interview. The same goes for my race number, 8. So, I took the 19th, which was that of Felipe Massa. It was my second son who suggested it to me when I asked him which one he would select instead.”
When we asked him to try a demo of F1 2020, the final version of which will be released on all current platforms on July 10, the pilot Haas did not hesitate. Like many other professional racers, Grosjean discovered his soul as a simracer when the Covid-19 crisis brought motorsport to a standstill. Until then, the Frenchman had more of the profile of an occasional gamer, even if he already kept a close eye on the Esport phenomenon, sometimes taking his console on the go. Mainly for riding rally, he tells us.
As the new champion of video game simulation, Grosjean admits his penchant for cutting-edge software such as iRacing, rFactor 2 or Assetto Corsa, real references for simracing professionals, and reveals that he prefers to drive GTs there. Because single-seaters remind him too much of work? “I always criticize this game for being a bit too arcade, explains the Genevan, referring to F1 2020. When you enter a corner, you always encounter understeer.
And then on the throttle, it's very complicated to know if you're going to spin or not when you don't have traction control. I find that the car lacks a little feeling and life when entering a corner. You must also drive with the camera located above the air intake to have a better vision. You can't play with the cockpit view. Obviously, that takes away a little bit of immersion. Afterwards, the graphics are very, very nice and it was nice to be able to discover the new circuits.
You can really feel the banked bends at Zandvoort, which I knew a little from having driven there in Formula 3, even if it was well before the recent work.
On the other hand, Hanoi left me with a more mixed feeling: I find the circuit too flat and I am not sure that the tires appreciate the series of turns. I find that the route looks like a mix of Sochi and Baku.
I am also surprised to see that a circuit like Barcelona (one of the 5 circuits offered in the preview with Bahrain, Vietnam, the Netherlands and Austria. Editor’s note) has lost relief compared to F1 2019. It is also missing a few vibrators, but hey we're talking details”. A real purist, we tell you!
Virtual infidelities
Grosjean nevertheless understands the desire of Codemasters and F1 to offer a product accessible to as many people as possible. “Today, if you don't have the latest Fanatec steering wheel and the latest 144 Hz ultra-wide screen, you can't drive on iRacing, He explains. I have seen it personally. Basically, I had a video projector, I switched to an ultra-wide screen and gained 1”5 per lap in one go. In this context, I see why the official F1 game is designed this way.”
But actually, with which car does Romain Grosjean grind down the virtual tarmac in F1 2020? Is it corporate right down to the end of the polygons? “If you play in time trial mode, the cars are not all at the same level, tells us the man with 10 career podiums. If you race online, you must check an option so that the cars have equal performance. When I take part in an official event, like the one last week where I rode against Tony Parker, Antoine Griezmann, Rudy Gobert, Gaël Monfils, Thibaut Courtois, Charles Leclerc, etc., I use the Haas of course.
After, when I ride like that, in a time trial, I take the Mercedes ! (Laughter) It's funny. I also do according to the wishes of my children. I know that at the moment, they ask me a lot for the pink car (Racing Point. Editor’s note) ».
Even if he sometimes teases the official F1 game, don't count on Grosjean to line up at the start of one of the Virtual Grands Prix organized by Liberty Media while waiting for the real season to restart. The Frenchman believes that he does not master the Codemasters opus sufficiently to compete with his rivals. He was able to see this when facing Haas reservist Louis Delétraz, who regularly represents the American firm alongside its other third driver Pietro Fittipaldi during F1 events.
“They are chasing me to participate, confides Grosjean. I rode a bit with Louis who trains every day and he took me 2 seconds per lap, so it's not worth it. If it's to be ridiculous... ». Max Verstappen, who is nevertheless an experienced simracer on iRacing, gives exactly the same speech. The drivers remain great competitors with the pride of the champion and the sensitivity that goes with it.
Double cap
The emergence of Esport allowed Grosjean to take on a new costume, that of team boss, by founding its own structure dedicated to simracing: R8G e-sports. Supported by the company Triple A and supported by several sponsors, the Frenchman has already brought together a nice pool of simracers that he is fielding in various online competitions which are abounding at the moment. Grosjean can also rent the services of his protégés to teams or manufacturers who want to get into Esports but do not have the infrastructure or the necessary knowledge.
“I had been watching this for a while and, with the lockdown, things accelerated, he says. I see huge potential there in the future. There is a real business behind the fun aspect. I sympathize with the team managers because it’s a full-time job! (Laughter) It's not easy to know which driver you're going to put in which race, to call which promoter to get a place on the grid for their virtual championship, to respond to requests from teams looking for talent, etc.
congrats @r8gesports on finishing 3rd at the virtual @ 24hoursoflemans
What an achievement for this first event. Congrats to the 4 drivers and
thanks to all our partners that made it possible pic.twitter.com/5ydtyGNnjq- Romain Grosjean (@RGrosjean) June 14, 2020
If someone says they want to field pilots in Nascar on iRacing, or a car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on rFactor 2 for example, I am able to propose an action plan. I have the drivers, I have the cars, I have the settings, I can make everything available to you. I tell myself that, in the future, manufacturers will look at this and take an interest in it seriously. It’s not easy to know the games, find the guys and know where to go. We can offer them turnkey solutions for sums which are certainly not crazy but become interesting.”
Investments that will always remain much less expensive than real competition. At this rate, doesn't the latter risk being eclipsed one day by simracing in the eyes of manufacturers? “ This is a discussion I had with another professional driver, answers Grosjean. He told me that we had to be careful because if brands realize that they have more impact thanks to Esport and that it costs them 200 euros per year instead of several millions, they will perhaps be asking the question.
Afterwards, when you are a manufacturer and you want to show your know-how by developing technologies, you cannot settle for simracing”. Esports and motor racing are more intended to be complementary than actually competitors. Grosjean has the intelligence to play both sides.
Medhi Casaurang
Passionate about the history of motorsport across all disciplines, I learned to read thanks to AUTOhebdo. At least that's what my parents tell everyone when they see my name inside!
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