Montreal is straights, chicanes and one hairpin. There is not a single long corner on the lap. You brake hard, jump a kerb, and go flat again. The walls are close, and the most famous one is waiting on the exit of the last chicane.
This F1 2018 Canada setup runs wings at 2 and 8, a locked differential, a high ride height of 6 and very low rear tyre pressure. It is a time trial setup, saved with 10 kg of fuel.
F1 2018 Canada setup
| Setting | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| Wing | 2 | 8 |
| Camber | -2.50 | -1.00 |
| Toe | 0.05 | 0.20 |
| Suspension | 6 | 5 |
| Anti-roll bar | 7 | 4 |
| Ride height | 6 | 6 |
| Tyre pressure | 23.4 psi | 19.5 psi |
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel load | 10 kg |
| Differential on throttle | 100% |
| Differential off throttle | 70% |
| Brake pressure | 90% |
| Front brake bias | 52% |
| Ballast | 9 |
Here is the lap the setup comes from:
Why this setup works in Montreal
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is 4.361 km with 14 corners, on an island in the St. Lawrence River. Almost every corner is part of a chicane. The lap time comes from three things: how late you brake, how much kerb you take, and how early you get back to full throttle.
The wings. Front 2, rear 8. A rear wing of 8 looks like a lot for a track with a long back straight. In this game the rear wing is what keeps the car straight under heavy braking and gives you drive out of second gear corners, and Montreal has six of those braking zones. The front stays at 2 to save drag, and because you do not need front load in corners this short.
The differential. 100% on throttle, fully locked. Out of a chicane or the hairpin you straighten the car and go. A locked differential sends the same drive to both rear wheels, and that is the quickest way down a straight. The cost is understeer if you pick up the throttle while still turning, so finish the corner first. Off throttle it is 70%.
The geometry. Camber and toe are at the least angle the menu allows: -2.50 and -1.00, 0.05 and 0.20. That is the right call here. The tyres are upright for braking and traction, and there is no long corner that would use more camber.
High and firm for the kerbs
Springs are 6 at the front and 5 at the rear. Anti-roll bars are 7 and 4. Ride height is 6 and 6.
The ride height is the value to notice. 6 is high for a time trial setup. In Montreal the fast line through every chicane goes over the kerbs, and they are tall. A low car hits them with the floor and jumps sideways. A car at 6 rides over them. You lose a little on the straights and you gain a lot more in the chicanes.
The springs are medium, a bit firmer than on most of my setups for this game. With the car this high, firmer springs stop it rolling around in the change of direction. The front bar at 7 gives a quick response for the left and right flicks. The rear bar at 4 keeps traction.
Tyres are at 23.4 psi front and 19.5 rear. That rear number is very low. A soft rear tyre has a bigger contact patch, and that is traction. The firm fronts keep the steering sharp.
My F1 2018 Monaco setup is for the other wall lined track of the season, and it goes the opposite way on wings.
Brakes
Brake pressure is 90% with 52% at the front.
Montreal is one of the hardest tracks of the year on brakes. With a front wing of 2 the fronts lock easily at the end of a braking zone, so the pressure is below the maximum and the bias sits quite far back. The big rear wing and the locked differential keep the rear stable while the rear brakes do more of the work.
What to change
One change at a time, three laps, then decide.
| Problem | Change | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The fronts lock into the hairpin | Brake pressure 90% to 85% | Less peak pressure at low speed |
| The rear steps out under braking | Front brake bias 52% to 54% | Takes braking work off the rear |
| Understeer on the throttle out of the chicanes | On throttle differential 100% to 80% | A more open differential lets the car rotate |
| The car will not turn into the first corner | Front wing 2 to 3 | More front grip on entry |
| The car jumps off the kerbs | Springs 6 / 5 to 4 / 4 | Softer springs take the kerb better |
| Wheelspin out of the hairpin | Rear anti-roll bar 4 to 2 | A softer rear bar gives more traction |
| Too slow on the back straight | Rear wing 8 to 6 | Less drag, with a less stable rear under braking |
For a race
The real race is 70 laps. Before a 25% or 50% race I would change this:
- On throttle differential 100% to 75%. A locked differential wears the rear tyres over a stint.
- Brake pressure 90% to 85%. A flat spot here costs you in every braking zone after it.
- Rear tyre pressure 19.5 to 20.3 psi. Very low pressure makes the rear tyres run hot over many laps.
- Fuel. The 10 kg is a time trial number. In a race the game sets the load for the distance.
On a pad, I would open the differential to 70% and lower the brake pressure to 85%. A locked differential and a trigger is a lot of wheelspin.
In F1 2018 you manage the ERS yourself. Use the battery out of the hairpin for the back straight and out of the last chicane for the pit straight. Recover in the chicanes of the first half of the lap.
Where the lap time is in Montreal
- Turns 1 and 2. A quick left that leads straight into a long, slow right. Brake for the first part and stay patient in the second. Do not go to full throttle until the car points at the exit.
- The first chicane. Right then left, with a wall on the exit. Take the inside kerb on the right, and leave a margin on the way out.
- The middle chicanes. Left then right, then right then left. This is where the ride height pays. Go over the kerbs and keep the car straight when you land.
- The hairpin. The slowest corner of the lap and the start of the longest straight. Brake in a straight line, turn late and get the car pointing down the straight before you ask for full power.
- The last chicane. You arrive at top speed. Right, left, over both kerbs. Too much kerb on the second part throws the car at the Wall of Champions.
Montreal in 2018
The 2018 Canadian Grand Prix was round 7 of 21, on 10 June. Sebastian Vettel took pole position for Ferrari with a 1:10.764 and won the race. It was his 50th win in Formula One. Valtteri Bottas finished second for Mercedes and Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull, with the fastest lap, a 1:13.864.
The race was scheduled for 70 laps, but the chequered flag was waved a lap early by mistake. The result was taken from lap 68.
The wall on the exit of the last chicane got its name in 1999, when three world champions crashed into it in the same race: Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve.
More F1 2018 setups
All the tracks are on the F1 2018 setups page. The round before Canada is the F1 2018 Monaco setup and the next one is the F1 2018 France setup.
For the same track in other games, here are my F1 2017 Canada setup, my F1 2019 Canada setup and my F1 25 Canada setup. The values do not carry over from one game to the next.
FAQ
What is the best F1 2018 setup for Canada?
For time trial: front wing 2, rear wing 8, differential 100% on throttle and 70% off, suspension 6 and 5, anti-roll bars 7 and 4, ride height 6 and 6, brake pressure 90% with 52% front bias, tyres at 23.4 and 19.5 psi, ballast 9.
What wing levels should I run in Montreal in F1 2018?
2 at the front and 8 at the rear. If you want more top speed, go down to 6 at the rear and brake a little earlier.
Can I use this Canada setup in a race?
Yes, with small changes. Differential on throttle to 75%, brake pressure to 85% and rear tyres to 20.3 psi.
Does this setup work with a controller?
It works better with the differential at 70% on throttle. Fully locked, the rear spins up easily on a trigger.
Why is the ride height so high?
Because the fast line goes over the chicane kerbs. At 6 the car rides over them. Lower than that, the floor hits the kerb and the car jumps.
How long is the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in F1 2018?
4.361 km with 14 corners. The real 2018 race was scheduled for 70 laps, and the pole lap was a 1:10.764.