F125 side by side racing tips

Learn about F125 side by side racing tips

Struggling to race wheel-to-wheel without contact or penalties? You’re not alone. F125 side by side racing tips matter because F1 25’s cars lose front grip in dirty air, brakes lock easily off-line, and the rules penalize contact and track limits. This guide will show you exactly how to hold position, pass cleanly, and avoid spins when running alongside another car.

Quick Answer

Hold a steady line, brake a touch earlier than normal, keep at least a car’s width, and modulate throttle on exit. Use ERS Overtake only once your front axle is alongside. Enable proximity arrows and mirrors, map Look Left/Right, and practice outside/inside lines in Grand Prix vs AI before trying multiplayer.

Why F125 side by side racing tips Feels So Hard at First

• When you’re next to another car, dirty air reduces front downforce, so the car understeers and locks the front tires more easily.
• You’re often off the rubbered racing line, so braking distances are longer and kerbs are riskier. That’s why contact, spins, or corner-cut penalties feel common early on.

By the end of this guide you’ll know how to set up your HUD and controls, choose safe braking points, pick the right side, and finish side-by-side fights cleanly.

What F125 side by side racing tips Means in F1 25

• “Side by side” (wheel-to-wheel) means you and a rival are overlapping through approach, apex, or exit.
• The car with significant overlap by turn-in (front axle at least alongside the other car’s rear axle) has a right to racing room. Both drivers must leave at least one car width to the white line.
• In F1 25, you’ll be penalized for avoidable contact, track limit violations, or unsafe rejoins. Clean racecraft improves multiplayer ratings and race results.

Before You Start (Prerequisites)

• Hardware
  • Controller or steering wheel. Either works—consistency matters more than hardware.
• Game mode
  • Practice in Grand Prix vs AI (adjust difficulty until racing is close but fair).
  • Use Time Trial to learn braking markers for each track.
• In-game menus to use
  • Settings > Controls
    • Map: Overtake (ERS), Look Left, Look Right, Rear View, Change Camera, MFD Toggle.
  • Settings > On-Screen Display
    • Proximity Arrows: On, Virtual Rear View Mirror: On, Track Map: Full, Flag Indicator: On.
  • Settings > Assists (use what keeps you consistent)
    • New players: ABS On, Traction Control Medium, Racing Line: Corners Only.
  • Settings > Camera
    • Use T-Cam with Virtual Mirror for awareness (adjust FOV to see apex and mirrors clearly).

Step-by-Step: How to Fix / Improve F125 side by side racing tips

1. Prepare your awareness tools

• Enable Proximity Arrows and Virtual Rear View Mirror.
• Map Look Left/Right so you can confirm overlap without guessing.
• Success check: You should see arrows turn red when a car is beside you and a live rear mirror on-screen.

2. Choose your side early

• On the straight, decide: attack inside (shorter line, tighter exit) or outside (more momentum, later apex).
• Make one clear move to defend or attack; avoid weaving.
• Success check: You hold a predictable line; the rival’s path is clear.

3. Adjust braking for off-line grip

• Brake 5–10 meters earlier when you’re off the racing line.
• Reduce initial brake pressure (especially with controller) to avoid front lockups in dirty air.
• If you use brake bias: move 0.5–1% rearward when following closely to reduce front lock; move it back once in clean air.
• Success check: No lockup smoke; car slows smoothly and stays straight.

4. Commit to your line at turn-in

• Inside line: Turn in slightly later, aim for a tight, slow apex. Leave at least a car width on your outside.
• Outside line: Turn in a touch earlier, keep a wider arc, and plan a later apex for a strong exit.
• Success check: Both cars can see daylight to the white line on their side.

5. Control mid-corner rotation

• Trail brake gently to keep the nose in; don’t yank the wheel.
• Avoid big kerbs while alongside—they can bounce your car into the rival.
• Success check: Steering stays calm; no snap oversteer or understeer into the other car.

6. Nail the exit without spinning

• Add throttle progressively; if you wheelspin, short-shift one gear (manual) or lift slightly (automatic).
• Keep the wheel straighter before full throttle—lateral + throttle = spin risk.
• Success check: You match or beat the rival’s drive without traction warnings.

7. Use ERS and DRS smartly

• ERS Overtake: Press when your front axle is alongside or your exit is clearly better; don’t waste battery too early.
• DRS: Plan to be within 1 second at the detection point; if leading into a DRS zone, consider holding position and re-attacking next zone.
• Success check: You aren’t battery-empty after two corners; you can re-attack next straight.

8. Know when to back out

• If you’re pinched to a sausage kerb or heading toward track limits, lift early and try the switchback (over-under) on exit.
• Protect the car and the race; a clean P2 beats a DNF.
• Success check: You create another passing chance within 1–2 corners.

9. Defensive racing 101

• Make one move to defend, then hold the line into braking.
• If the attacker is alongside by turn-in, leave a car width. Squeeze gently on exit only if you’re ahead and not forcing them off.
• Success check: No warnings for dangerous driving; exits remain stable.

10. Wet or low-grip conditions

• Add another 10–20 meters to braking when off-line.
• Be extra cautious with kerbs and throttle; short-shift more frequently.
• Success check: Clean, drama-free side-by-side through at least one corner complex.

Common Mistakes and Myths About F125 side by side racing tips

• Braking at your normal marker while off-line: Grip is lower; you’ll lock up and slide into the other car.
• Aiming for the apex as if you’re alone: You must leave at least a car width if the rival is alongside.
• Spamming ERS Overtake too early: You’ll drain the battery before overlap, then get re-passed.
• Weaving multiple times: One move only; more will earn penalties or cause contact.
• Riding big kerbs while alongside: Unsettles the car and triggers side contact.
• Myth: “Outside passes never work.” Outside passes work if you plan a later apex and protect the exit.

Troubleshooting and “What If It Still Feels Wrong?”

• I keep getting 5s penalties for contact or track limits

  • Likely cause: Turning in without leaving space or braking at solo markers off-line.
  • Fix: Brake slightly earlier, hold a predictable line, and consciously leave a car width at apex and exit.

• I spin when I’m next to AI on corner exit

  • Likely cause: Too much throttle + lateral load + kerb.
  • Fix: Short-shift, be smoother on throttle, avoid big exit kerbs. Consider Traction Control: Medium until consistent. Lower on-throttle differential slightly if setups are allowed to improve traction.

• Rivals “divebomb” me into slow corners

  • Likely cause: AI difficulty a bit high or you’re braking early.
  • Fix: Reduce AI difficulty a few clicks; defend the inside earlier (one move), brake in a straight line.

• I keep running wide in dirty air behind another car

  • Likely cause: Front downforce loss.
  • Fix: Reduce entry speed, trail brake gently to keep weight on the nose, and move brake bias back toward neutral once you return to clean air.

• Netcode/lag causes touches in multiplayer

  • Likely cause: High ping or unstable lobby.
  • Fix: Prefer regional lobbies with good ping; add an extra half-car-width of margin; avoid side-by-side through chicanes in laggy sessions.

• My ERS is always empty after one fight

  • Likely cause: Overusing Overtake too early or too long.
  • Fix: Only press once overlap is imminent; do a “recharge lap” with minimal Overtake usage to rebuild the battery.

Note: Don’t max out advanced setup changes to “solve” racecraft. Extreme diff/ARB/ride height tweaks can make the car unpredictable, especially on a controller.

Pro Tips Once You’re Comfortable

• Sell the dummy: Show the outside early, then switch to the inside before the braking zone (one clean move).
• Plan the switchback: If you’re forced tight on entry, brake a touch more, square the car, and power under their compromised exit.
• Micro brake-bias changes: ±1% for specific corners—rearward in dirty air to prevent front lock; forward when defending to stabilize rear on straight-line braking.
• Energy planning: Save battery for the longest straights and DRS zones where passes are most likely to stick.
• Track-specific practice: Rehearse side-by-side lines at safe corners (e.g., Bahrain T4, Austria T3/T4, Barcelona T1/T2) before trying trickier complexes.

How to Know It’s Working (Definition of Done)

• You can run door-to-door through one full corner without contact or warnings.
• You routinely brake 5–10 m earlier off-line and still make the corner.
• You complete at least two clean overtakes or defenses per race using ERS only when overlap is likely.
• Post-race, you see fewer penalties and higher racecraft ratings, and your exits feel controlled (no traction warnings).

Step-by-Step: How to Fix / Improve F125 side by side racing tips

(Quick reference version)

1. Turn on Proximity Arrows and Virtual Mirror.
2. Map Look Left/Right and ERS Overtake.
3. Decide inside/outside early; make one move only.
4. Brake slightly earlier off-line; soften initial brake pressure.
5. Leave a car width at all times when overlapped.
6. Trail brake gently; avoid big kerbs while alongside.
7. Feed in throttle smoothly; short-shift if needed.
8. Use ERS only when overlap is imminent.
9. If squeezed, lift and plan the switchback rather than forcing contact.

Next Steps and Related Guides

• F125 braking technique: Learn markers, trail braking, and bias tweaks to stop cleanly in traffic.
• F125 ERS and DRS racecraft: Battery planning, detection points, and timing your pass.
• F125 camera and HUD for awareness: Dial in FOV, mirrors, and telemetry so you always know where rivals are.

Now that your F125 side by side racing tips are dialed in, the next big gain usually comes from improving your braking technique. Check out our guide on F125 braking technique next.