F1 23 Portugal Setups

F1 23 Portugal Setups Video

Below is our full car setup video for our recommended F1 23 Portugal Setups.

F1 23 Portimao Setup Guide

Portimao in Portugal may not be on the official Formula 1 calendar in 2023, but it returns in the F1 23 game. Portimao is a track which features a really unique layout in terms of an F1 track thanks to its large undulations and elevation change.

It was a fan and driver favourite track during its appearance on the Formula 1 calendar a few years ago, and this is a big part of why it’s returned to F1 23.

Aerodynamics

The high number of undulating segments of tracks and corners which feature elevation change can cause a problem with a car’s overall balance.

To avoid the rear of the car going light through some of the faster corners and bumps, it’s often worth setting the rear aerodynamics higher than the front. This will keep the rear of the car planted into the track and avoid sudden loss of rear downforce which can easily happen through corners such as turns 4 and 14.

Transmission

There are a fair few slower corners and rear traction can be an issue around Portimao. The emphasis on rear downforce also plays a big part in ensuring that the rear of the car maintains good contact with the track at all times.

I’d recommend lowering your on-throttle differential setup for Portimao in F1 23 to counteract some loss of traction and rear downforce. You can also lower the off-throttle differential to help improve initial corner turn-in.

Suspension Geometry

The suspension geometry for Portimao doesn’t necessarily follow tradition for most F1 23 setups. You can run some additional toe and camber due to the unique corner layout. Despite there being a long straight, some additional toe has more benefit to keeping your car stable yet responsive through the rest of the lap.

Suspension

You may think that a really soft suspension is the best option for Portimao in F1 23 due to the hills and dips. However, you will want some stiffness in your car setup, especially at the front to maintain responsiveness, even when your car goes light over a large crest.

You can soften the rear as this will help with rear stability which is vital around the Portugese track in F1 23. Also, set your ride height higher for Portimao to reduce the risk of bottoming out over the large hills and bumps.

Brakes

Braking around Portimao is relatively standard, meaning we can run full brake pressure in this car setup. You can play around with the brake bias, as some corners will benefit from having a more rearward-focused brake bias and others more frontward.

Tyres

Tyre wear around Portimao in F1 23 isn’t a huge concern, with the wear rate being relatively average. You may want to reduce the tyre pressures to help soften your car a little bit. And reducing the front pressures can avoid some excess temperature build-up which can happen through some of the longer corners.

Portugal F1 23 setup overview

Portimao is a fan favourite track, and one which is incredibly fun to drive in F1 23. It presents unique challenges which require a relatively unusual car setup with a heavy reliance on rear stability.