Automobilista 2 | The Ultimate Formula 1 Season Guide

When it comes to retro content in sim racing, it is hard to ignore Automobilista 2 – the selection is overwhelming, especially for Formula 1 fans. The sim currently offers no less than 14 Formula 1 seasons, spanning six decades – which exact years are represented is only undoubtedly made clear in very few cases. To give you a better overview of the historic F1 content, we have assembled a guide to the different classes for you.

No less than 32 cars from six decades – the amount of choice is a sight to behold and cannot be found anywhere else, except with mods. The best part: All of the F1 cars in Automobilista 2 are free and already in the sim – you do not need to buy them as DLC.

RaceDepartment would like to use this article to call all Automobilista 2 modders: To avoid confusion while in game, changing the names of the classes to include their respective seasons would be an enormous help for a lot of sim racers – if it is even possible. Feel free to use this guide as a base if you want to make life easier for them!

What other F1 seasons would you want to see represented in Automobilista 2? What are your favorites that are already in the sim? Let us know on Twitter at @RaceDepartment or in the comments below.

The oldest F1 season in AMS2 does not have one easily identifiable year in particular – two are possible: Both the V8 and V12 cars of the class feature three-liter engines, which were brought back by the 1966 rules. The cars of that year and the following looked very similar, the V8 model could hint at 1967, though – its engine bears some resemblance to the legendary Ford-Cosworth DFV that was introduced that year.

Cars:
Formula Vintage Gen1 Model 1 (V8)
Formula Vintage Gen2 Model 2 (V12)

Just two years later, the cars had grown wings: While the models that formed the base was still obvious, the cars did sport a considerably changed appearance. The first wings were brought onto the grid in 1968, but by 1969, the outrageously high wing constructions of the very beginning had been banned already, meaning the cars featured wings closer to the actual chassis. Four models make up this class, and the Brabham BT26A was mainly raced in 1969, while the Lotus 49C only saw competition starting in 1970 – to determine the exact year of the class is therefore impossible.

Cars:
Brabham BT26A
Formula Vintage Gen2 Model 1 (V8)
Formula Vintage Gen2 Model 2 (V12)
Lotus 49C

At five cars, this class is represented even better than the the Vintage Gen2. The only season that the Lotus 72E, the McLaren M23 and the Brabham BT44 competed against each other is 1974 – although the cars could be seen on track in 1975 as well, with Brabham using a B-version that is not available in the sim. Also, Emerson Fittipaldi celebrated his second world title in 1974, and with Reiza being a Brazilian studio, it is likely that this is the year chosen by them.

Cars:
Brabham BT44
Formula Retro Gen1 Model 1 (V12)
Formula Retro Gen1 Model 2 (V8)
Lotus 72E
McLaren M23

The Lotus 79 was used in both 1978 and 1979 and is famous for kicking off the Ground Effect era. A championship winner in the hands of Mario Andretti in 1978, the car sees competition with the Brabham BT46B – the legendary Fan Car, which won the only Grand Prix it was ever raced in – the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix. Thus, all signs point to 1978 as the season the class is representing.

Cars:
Brabham BT46B
Formula Retro Gen2 (V8)
Lotus 79

No more Ground Effect, but increasingly powerful turbocharged engines – the season in question is 1983. The first year after the ban on Ground Effect aerodynamics saw Nelson Piquet take his second world title, though his Brabham BT52 is not available in this class. Instead, the McLaren MP4/1C of 1983 takes to the grid, easily identifiable by its slimmer sidepods compared to the 1982 version.

Cars:
Formula Retro Gen3 DFY (naturally aspirated V8)
Formula Retro Gen3 Turbo (V6 Turbo)
McLaren MP4/1C

The height of turbo-powered engines – never has F1 seen more horsepower! Two cars without obvious real-life counterparts induce tons of wheelspin in this class, which is no surprise at 1300 and 1380 horses respectively. Model 1 bears some similarity to the Williams FW11, while Model 2 could have taken inspiration from the Lotus 98T and the Benetton B186. Careful with that throttle pedal!

Cars:
Formula Classic Gen1 Model 1 (1300 HP)
Formula Classic Gen2 Model 2 (1380 HP)

Before their reintroduction in 2014, turbo engines had last been used in 1988. In anticipation for the 1989 season, some teams were already racing naturally aspirated engines, which the class with its three cars reflects. Both V8 vehicles do not differ too much except for weight and power, the V6 version sports a less powerful turbo engine compared to 1986 – which was the right one to have for McLaren in the real 1988 season, as Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost famously won every race but the Italian Grand Prix that year.

Cars:
Formula Classic Gen2 Model 1 (V8)
Formula Classic Gen2 Model 2 (V8)
Formula Classic Gen2 Model 3 (V6 Turbo)

Ayrton Senna wins the world championship for the third time, Michael Schumacher makes his debut – 1991 was an exciting season without a doubt. The three cars of the F-Classic Gen3 class in AMS2 are from that year – the V12 car is a Ferrari 643, the V10 has the characteristic appearance of the Williams FW14, and the V8 is a Benetton B191 – including the H-pattern shifter.

Cars:
Formula Classic Gen3 Model 1 (V12)
Formula Classic Gen3 Model 2 (V10)
Formula Classic Gen3 Model 3 (V8)

After the 1995 season, no V12 engine was raced again in Formula 1 – before Toyota made its foray onto the grid in 2002, they were considering doing so with a twelve-cylinder motor but decided on a V10 instead. To date, the Ferrari 412T2 is the final F1 car to be powered by a V12 engine, and it is undoubtably the base for the Formula V12 class in AMS2.

Car:
Formula V12

The first generation of the Formula V10 class is obviously meant to represent a single season as well – thanks to the McLaren MP4/12 that Reiza has brought into the sim complete with its infamous second brake pedal. Thus, it is possible to relive the final year until 2017 in which two-meter wide F1 cars were raced.

Cars:
Formula V10 Gen1 Model 1
McLaren MP4/12

Grooved tires, a narrower track and screaming V10 engines – the second generation of the class could be both the 2000 and 2001 season. Indicative of the latter: The cars feature traction control, which was only allowed again in 2001. Despite this, no one should hold back on enjoying the 2000 season with the fitting skin pack.

Car:
Formula V10 Gen2

The V8 era with skinny rear wings and slicks is present in AMS2 as well – the Formula Reiza is a carbon copy of the Red Bull RB7. With this car, Sebastian Vettel won his second world championship while the team claimed victory twelve times in 19 races – eleven of which were scored by Vettel.

Car:
Formula Reiza

The only class that does not need further investigation regarding its year – it is stated in the car’s name. The era of re-widened hybrid F1 cars is represented by this class in AMS2.

Car:
Formula Ultimate Gen 2019

Reiza’s most recent addition to the sim leaves no room for doubt – this is their interpretation of an F1 car under the new-for-2022 set of rules. Not only does it look fantastic, it drives just as well – nothing is in the way of enjoying a 2022 F1 car in the sim.

Car:
Formula Ultimate Gen2