After more than 20 hours behind the wheel at the Shanghai International Circuit in EA Sports F1 25, I’ve landed on a setup that walks the tightrope between blistering top speed and consistent tire life. This review breaks down each tuning choice—from aero balance to tire pressures—shares the thinking (and mistakes) that shaped it, and awards scores for speed, stability, and tire wear.
Shanghai is a beast: a long DRS straight that begs for minimum drag, followed by flowing technical sectors that punish any front-end slip, and tire-depleting corners that will chew up your rubber—especially the front-left—if you get greedy. You can’t simply slap on “high downforce” or “low drag” and expect miracles. You need compromise, data, and a bit of trial and error.
Why: This split tames understeer through Turns 1 and 2, while keeping drag low enough to hit 1:33s in qualifying. On pad-only, I bumped rear wing to 34 to stave off rear snaps on kerb exits—at the cost of 2 kph on the straight.
Why: High on-throttle diff gives punch out of slow corners like Turn 6; moderate off-throttle diff smooths rotation in flowing bends. If the rear steps out at Turn 13, dial off-throttle up to 58%.
Why: Aggressive front camber maximizes contact patch through long, sweeping corners. Minimal toe reduces drag and helps tire longevity—crucial for consistent race pace.
Why: Stiff front springs sharpen turn-in for the technical sector. A softer rear soaks up kerbs and ensures power transfer onto the back straight remains predictable—higher ride height also prevents sudden snap under throttle.
Why: Full pressure for decisive stopping into hairpins. If lock-ups become an issue late in stints, trim pressure to 98% and/or shift bias to 54% for extra rear stability.
Why: These values hit the sweet spot of grip and wear. Higher rear pressures spike temperatures beyond safe thresholds; lower front pressures kill turn-in. After multiple 50% runs, this balance yielded the flattest wear curve.
Wheel Users: Increase force feedback gain around T6 and final hairpin to feel kerb transitions.
Controller Users: Consider Rear Wing 34 and refine trigger curves in Options > Controls > Advanced for smoother throttle application.
Rain: +2 on both wings, ride heights +2 each, brake pressure 98%. Kerbs bite unpredictably when wet—stay cautious until you learn their limit.
| Aspect | Score (10) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Top Speed | 8.5 | Low drag yields mid-330 kph; slight wing add drops 2–3 kph. |
| Corner Stability | 9.0 | Front-end planted through Turns 1, 2 and 13, with minimal understeer. |
| Tire Wear | 8.0 | Front-left stays in range for 12–14 laps; rear wears 10% slower. |
| Overall Balance | 8.8 | Consistent over quali runs and 50% races; minor tweaks on pad vs. wheel. |
Overall Score: 8.6/10
Shanghai’s unique mix of high-speed straights and demanding corners rewards a setup that’s both bold and forgiving. This tune hit 1:33s on Mediums in quali and held a stable 1:35–1:37 pace over 14 laps on Medium/Hard. Use these settings as a solid baseline, then tweak in small increments to suit your style and hardware. Remember: consistency trumps raw pace—manage tires, respect kerbs, and you’ll conquer one of F1 25’s most satisfying challenges.