F1 Manager 2024 is Frontier Developments' third official Formula 1 management game, released on 23 July 2024 with the full 2024 grid of ten teams and a 24 round calendar. The headline addition is Create A Team, the first time the series lets you build an eleventh outfit from scratch with your own livery, logo, race suits, staff and sponsor deals. Mechanical Failures also arrived, so pushing a car hard for a whole stint now carries a real chance of losing it, and temperature management moved from a background number to something you watch. Underneath that sit the systems the series is actually built on: twelve car performance attributes fed by six part types, ten driver attributes, a five slider setup you dial in during practice, and a mentality system where unhappy staff design worse parts. Steam reviews are Very Positive at around 81 percent and Metacritic lands on 81, which is roughly where the game deserves to be: strong race day, occasionally shallow between weekends.
Choosing the right build shapes your entire experience. This guide breaks down every option: what they're good at, what they struggle with, and which one matches your playstyle. For optimized builds with full gear sets, see our builds guide.
Quick Comparison
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Best Equipment | Beginner Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Bull Racing | A | Balanced | Front Wing | Yes |
| Ferrari | A | Balanced | Rear Wing | Yes |
| McLaren | A | Balanced | Underfloor | Yes |
| Mercedes | A | Balanced | Sidepods | Yes |
| Williams | A | Balanced | Suspension | Yes |
New player? Start with Ferrari. See our beginner's guide for why.
Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing is a strong option in F1 Manager 2024.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Front Wing |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Create A Team |
Strengths
- Highest overall performance across all content types
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Front Wing
Weaknesses
- Popular choice, competition for resources
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Bahrain International Circuit to learn Red Bull Racing-specific mechanics
- Focus on Create A Team. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Front Wing as your first major upgrade
- See our full Red Bull Racing build guide for the optimal gear progression
Ferrari
Ferrari is a strong option in F1 Manager 2024.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Rear Wing |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Mechanical Failures |
Strengths
- Most versatile, adapts to any situation
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Rear Wing
Weaknesses
- Lower peak damage than S-tier options
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Bahrain International Circuit to learn Ferrari-specific mechanics
- Focus on Mechanical Failures. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Rear Wing as your first major upgrade
- See our full Ferrari build guide for the optimal gear progression
McLaren
McLaren is a strong option in F1 Manager 2024.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Underfloor |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Car part design and research |
Strengths
- Best survivability for learning hard content
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Underfloor
Weaknesses
- Slower progression speed
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Bahrain International Circuit to learn McLaren-specific mechanics
- Focus on Car part design and research. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Underfloor as your first major upgrade
- See our full McLaren build guide for the optimal gear progression
Mercedes
Mercedes is a strong option in F1 Manager 2024.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Sidepods |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Practice programmes and the five slider setup |
Strengths
- Excellent in group and cooperative content
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Sidepods
Weaknesses
- Less effective solo
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Bahrain International Circuit to learn Mercedes-specific mechanics
- Focus on Practice programmes and the five slider setup. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Sidepods as your first major upgrade
- See our full Mercedes build guide for the optimal gear progression
Williams
Williams is a strong option in F1 Manager 2024.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Suspension |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Mentality and team morale |
Strengths
- Highest skill ceiling with unique mechanics
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Suspension
Weaknesses
- Steep learning curve, punishing mistakes
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Bahrain International Circuit to learn Williams-specific mechanics
- Focus on Mentality and team morale. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Suspension as your first major upgrade
- See our full Williams build guide for the optimal gear progression
Which Build Should You Pick?
For Beginners
Ferrari is the clear winner. It's forgiving, teaches core mechanics, and remains competitive into endgame. Follow our beginner's guide for the best first-session experience.
For Maximum Performance
Red Bull Racing is the top pick once you understand the game's mechanics. Pair it with Front Wing for the strongest overall setup.
For a Challenge
Williams offers the highest skill ceiling. It's punishing when misplayed but incredibly rewarding when mastered. Only recommended after you've completed the game with another build.
For Group Play
Mercedes shines in cooperative content with utility and team support capabilities.
More F1 Manager 2024 Guides
- F1 Manager 2024 F1 Manager 2024 Overview
- F1 Manager 2024 Best Builds
- F1 Manager 2024 Tier List
- F1 Manager 2024 Walkthrough
- F1 Manager 2024 Beginner's Guide
- F1 Manager 2024 Tips & Tricks
- F1 Manager 2024 Weapons Guide
- F1 Manager 2024 Combat Guide
- F1 Manager 2024 Boss Guide
- F1 Manager 2024 Maps & Locations
- F1 Manager 2024 Crafting Guide
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