The Thrustmaster T300 RS and TX are the same belt driven base, one for PlayStation and one for Xbox. Both work on PC. The TMX is the cheaper Xbox wheel, with less force and a mix of belt and gears.
A belt gives you a smooth wheel with more force than a Logitech. It also rounds off the small details a little. So the F1 2020 settings go the other way from the Logitech ones: more strength, slightly more effects, and understeer enhance on.
F1 2020 Thrustmaster settings
| Where | Setting | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Control panel | Rotation | 900° |
| Control panel | Constant | 100% |
| Control panel | Periodic | 100% |
| Control panel | Spring | 100% |
| Control panel | Damper | 0% |
| Control panel | Auto center | By the game |
| Game | Vibration and force feedback | On |
| Game | Vibration and force feedback strength | 105 |
| Game | On track effects | 35 |
| Game | Rumble strip effects | 40 |
| Game | Off track effects | 20 |
| Game | Wheel damper | 10 |
| Game | Understeer enhance | On |
| Game | Maximum wheel rotation (F1 and F2) | 360° |
The Logitech and Fanatec values are next to these in my F1 2020 wheel settings guide, if you want to see how far apart the wheels are.
Control panel settings
On PC, open the Thrustmaster control panel before you start the game.
Rotation 900°. Leave the wheel wide. F1 2020 sets its own limit for the F1 car. If you set 360° here and 360° in the game, the two limits can fight each other.
Constant 100% and periodic 100%. These are the main forces and the vibrations the game sends. Keep both at 100% and control the level inside the game. If you lower them here, you lower everything, in every game.
Spring 100% and damper 0%. F1 2020 does not lean on the spring, so 100% changes little. The damper in the panel adds weight on top of the game damper. One damper is enough, and the one in the game is easier to change.
Auto center by the game. Let the game decide. If you force it in the panel, the wheel pulls to the centre all the time and fights the real feedback.
On console there is no control panel. The wheel uses its defaults, which are close to these. Set the rotation with the mode button if your wheel does not adjust by itself.
Calibration settings
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Steering deadzone | 0 |
| Steering linearity | 0 |
| Steering saturation | 0 |
| Throttle deadzone | 0 |
| Throttle linearity | 0 |
| Throttle saturation | 0 |
| Brake deadzone | 0 |
| Brake linearity | 0 |
| Brake saturation | 0 |
All at 0. The game then does exactly what you do with your hands and feet.
One exception. The standard two pedal set that comes with the T300 RS and the TMX has a light brake with no real resistance. It is easy to hit 100% without wanting to. If you lock the fronts all the time, raise brake linearity to 20 or 30. The first part of the pedal then does less, and you get more control near the limit.
Force feedback settings, and why
Strength 105. Just above 100. The T300 and TX have enough force to carry it, and the F1 car feels light at 100 on this base. Do not go a lot higher. Past a point the wheel is at its maximum in every loaded corner and you stop feeling the difference between them.
On track effects 35. The belt filters small bumps, so a higher value than on a gear driven wheel still feels clean.
Rumble strip effects 40. Clear on the kerbs without throwing the wheel around. F1 2020 has a lot of kerbs you want to use, so you need to feel exactly when you are on them.
Off track effects 20. Low. It tells you nothing you can use.
Wheel damper 10. A bit of weight that keeps the wheel calm on the straights. If you find the wheel slow when you correct a slide, this is the first value to lower.
Understeer enhance on. The wheel goes light when the front tyres start to slide. With a belt in the way, the natural drop in force is soft and easy to miss. This makes it obvious. If you already feel the front well, turn it off for a more honest wheel.
Maximum wheel rotation 360°. The game default for F1 and F2 cars. You take a hairpin without crossing your hands.
TMX: what I would change
The TMX has less force than the T300 and TX, and gears in the drive. I would start from the same table with two changes:
- On track effects down to 25. The gears add their own noise.
- If fast corners feel all the same, strength down to 95.
Everything else stays. There is more on the wheel itself in my Thrustmaster TMX force feedback settings guide.
What to change when it does not feel right
One change at a time, three laps each.
| Problem | Change | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fast corners all feel the same | Strength down to 90 or 95 | The wheel is clipping |
| Wheel too light in slow corners | Strength up to 110 | More force at low load |
| Wheel slow when you catch a slide | Wheel damper to 0 or 5 | The damper resists fast hands |
| Too much shaking on the straight | On track effects down to 20 | Road noise covers the tyres |
| Kerbs are too violent | Rumble strip effects down to 25 | The effect is bigger than the grip signal |
| Force fades in a long race | Strength down 10, and check the base has air around it | The motor is getting hot |
| You lock the front tyres too easily | Brake linearity up to 20 or 30 | A light pedal reaches full pressure too early |
About the fading: a belt driven base gets warm in long sessions and the force can drop. Do not put the base against a wall or under a shelf. If you race 50% or full distance, a little less strength keeps the wheel the same from lap 1 to the end.
Next steps
- A good car setup is worth more than any wheel setting. All 22 tracks are in the F1 2020 setups hub.
- On a different wheel: Logitech G29 and G920, Fanatec CSL DD and CSL Elite, Fanatec Podium DD2 and ClubSport.
- Moved to the next game? Here are my F1 2021 Thrustmaster settings.
- Same wheel in other sims: ACC Thrustmaster settings, Assetto Corsa Thrustmaster settings and Gran Turismo 7 Thrustmaster settings.
FAQ
What are the best F1 2020 settings for the Thrustmaster T300?
Force feedback strength 105, on track effects 35, rumble strip effects 40, off track effects 20, wheel damper 10, understeer enhance on and wheel rotation 360°. In the control panel: rotation 900°, constant, periodic and spring at 100%, damper at 0%.
Are the T300 RS and TX settings the same?
Yes. They are the same belt driven base. The T300 RS is for PlayStation and PC, the TX is for Xbox and PC.
Do these settings work on the TMX?
As a start, yes. The TMX has less force and a noisier drive, so I would lower on track effects to 25 and bring the strength down to 95 if the wheel clips.
Why is the strength above 100?
The F1 2020 slider goes past 100, and the T300 and TX have enough force to use a little of that. At 105 the car has weight without the wheel running out of force in fast corners.
What rotation should I set on a Thrustmaster wheel for F1 2020?
900° in the control panel and 360° in the game for F1 and F2 cars. The game then limits the wheel for you.
Why does my T300 lose force after a while?
The base gets hot and the force drops. Give it air on all sides, and lower the strength by about 10 for long races.