Formula 1 is commonly known as the pinnacle of motorsport, and as such, the cars are incredibly difficult to drive.
However, thanks to Codemasters, you can enjoy driving the fastest motor cars in the world in the comfort of your own home. The F1 2019 video game includes the entire 21-race calendar of the current season, with each circuit having a varying degree of difficulty when it comes to driveability.
Sometimes, no matter how you set the car up, some corners are just near-impossible to nail and always give you grief. And Thanks to changes Codemasters made this year they are not the same ones as last year! Here are the 5 corners that will consistently trip you up the most in F1 2019!
#5 - Dunlop Curve, Japan
On the surface, a long left-hander that you can take flat-out doesn't sound too difficult. However, there is much more to the Dunlop curve than this. Suzuka's Turn 7 follows the long S curves, probably the hardest section on the Formula 1 calendar, and any mistakes that you made before are exaggerated here. If just a millimetre of your front-right wheel touches the kerbs or the grass, you'll win a one-way ticket to the barriers or gravel.
How to perfect it: Lift and stay in fifth gear for Turn 5, before squirting the throttle and going into Turn 6 where you stay in the same gear throughout. Dunlop follows, it’s a long gradual uphill left-hander where you should be able to go full throttle through. Stick as close to the inside as possible, as this corner tightens the further you go up, it’s very easy to clip the grass and spin around.
READ MORE: F1 2019 Japanese GP Track Guide
#4 - Turns 12 & 13, Singapore
Technically two corners, but as one follows the other so quickly, I'll be counting them as one entry. The Singapore Sling used to be a horrible chicane to try and get through, but since the circuit was re-profiled ahead of the 2013 race, Turns 12 and 13 are now the most problematic.
Traction is usually very limited out of the very tight Turn 11, but you have to accelerate while turning to be quick, this is usually the spot when you end it in the wall in Singapore. The bridge in between the corners bends and is also tight, the braking zone is tricky too, if you see Turn 13 before braking, it's too late, you'll run wide.
How to perfect it: After remaining in fourth gear, brake just after the Rolex hoardings above you disappear from view. T11 just begs you cut it, but much more than a wheel over the inside kerb will land you with a penalty. Accelerate gingerly through Turn 12, as crashing into the bridge is very easy to do. Turn 13 isn’t visible when you’re braking for it, but missing the correct point will lose you a lot of time on exit. I get on the anchors around the point where I’m maxing out the revs in fifth gear. Brake heavily down to second gear and clip the inside kerb on exit.
READ MORE: F1 2019 Singapore GP Track Guide
#3 - Turn 11, Spain
It looks so benign, so pedestrian, and that's part of what makes it so difficult. If you're new to the F1 games, you won't expect this to cause you any frustration, but it will. This corner is the sole reason why I recommend running full downforce on the rear around Spain, the back end just cannot hack it otherwise.
The corner is uphill and the track is narrow here, so you have to ride the inside kerb to get around it. However, the kerb unsettles the back end and will throw you into the barriers to the left if you aren't fully prepared.
How to perfect it: You have to half-throttle it over the kerbs to avoid spinning out. You need to use the kerbs on the inside to prepare for T12, avoiding them completely leaves you too little room to properly turn in. Run your left front over the red and white kerbing on Turn 11, then immediately switch to the right for T12.
READ MORE: F1 2019 Spanish GP Track Guide
#2 - La Rascasse, Monaco
The Circuit de Monaco is the hardest track to drive around in Formula 1, so it's no surprise that one of its famous old turns makes it onto this list. The penultimate corner of the track is the most challenging round this classic street circuit, because of a number of reasons.
Locking up is easier than ever in F1 2019, and with the exception of the final entry on this list, this is probably the most common location to struggle with braking. You have to brake while turning, and when you have a car behind you, the pressure to get the braking point spot on is palpable.
The track here is very narrow, despite overtakes being possible, you're just as likely to end your race in the barriers if you attempt a move. Believe it or not, but this section used to be even narrower, but it remains one of racing's hardest corners!
How to perfect it: Brake at the point where the TV screen on the right disappears from view in T-Cam or when you’ve got up to 130 mph (210 kph). Braking here is tricky, as you have to do it while turning, so don’t slam the anchors on with full force, or else you’ll head into the barriers.
Brake down into second gear (40 mph / 64 kph) and take a wide line in qualifying/time trial. In the race, this is an unlikely overtaking opportunity, but one you have to have faith in the driver ahead to pull off. Be careful of turning in too early for the second part of Rascasse, as it’s very easy to clip your right rear on exit.
READ MORE: F1 2019 Monaco GP Track Guide
#1 - Turn 10, Bahrain
Sakhir's lock-up city of a corner is, in our opinion, the hardest corner to get right in F1 2019. Like previously stated, locking up is easier than ever in this game, and the most common location on the entire calendar to do so is the tenth corner in Bahrain. It's got a strong downhill gradient, it's off-camber, it's got a blind apex, it's everything that causes you headaches as a driver.
During the race, you simply have to drive conservatively through this bend, going flat-out will end with you locking up and running wide most of the time.
How to perfect it: You need to brake as close to the inside kerbing of Turn 9 for Turn 10 and while you’re in seventh gear. A reference is difficult to find here, but you’ll be slowing when you reach around 150mph (242kph). Be gentle with the brakes, if you apply them fully, you will lock-up and run wide if you don’t have ABS.
Kiss the kerbing on the outside of Turn 9 to give you the best possible line for 10. You’ll be braking all the way down the hill and aim for the inside kerb of T10. Running wide of the exit is very common here, but as long as you avoid the outside kerbing on exit, you’ll be all right.
READ MORE: F1 2019 Bahrain GP Track Guide
Of course, what one person thinks is the hardest corner in F1 can differ from another, but some consistently cause drivers pain than others, and Bahrain's Turn 10 is without a doubt up there.
But what do you think is the hardest corner in F1 2019? Let us know in the comments below!