Video game fans have had a chance to sample Codemasters’ latest iteration of their Formula 1 franchise since last week, when F1 2018 was released across multiple platforms worldwide.
According to first reviews, this year’s installment is by far the most accurate in terms of graphics, driving physics and overall car performance, the latter being something we could use to draw some parallels to what’s going on in the real world.
Now, thanks to AlexZafRo and his idea to test each car’s top speed on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit’s long straight, we know exactly how the teams compare in a straight line for the 2018 season. By the way, in last year’s game, Williams was fastest, followed by Mercedes, Force India, Renault, Haas, Ferrari, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Sauber and McLaren, in that order.
In F1 2018, things are very different and, dare we say, indicative of what we have seen so far this year on the tracks, albeit with a few surprises along the way.
Without further ado, here’s how the cars stack up in-game: Tied for first are Ferrari and Force India, both of which hit 338 km/h (210 mph) before the end of the pit straight in Mexico. Third, fourth and fifth were Mercedes, Williams and Sauber (which uses Alfa Romeo-branded Ferrari engines) with 337 km/h (209 mph), 335 km/h (208 mph) and 334 km/h (207 mph) respectively.
Tied for sixth were Renault, Toro Rosso and Haas with 333 km/h (206 mph) each, followed by second-to-last Red Bull (330 km/h / 205 mph) and McLaren with a disappointing 327 km/h (203 mph).
The fact that Ferrari came out on top is no surprise, seen as how Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff himself stated that the Scuderia currently has a power advantage. Force India beating out Mercedes is also not that big of a surprise, seen as how the Merc has more straight line-sapping downforce.
It was however very interesting to see the Honda-powered Toro Rosso being faster than the two Renault-powered cars, while Sauber is the reverse of Mercedes, relying on straight-line speed as their chassis isn’t on par with that of their rivals.