Circuit of the Americas has a bit of everything. A steep climb to a blind first corner, a first sector of fast sweepers, a hairpin onto a long back straight, and then a slow, technical last sector. One setup has to do all of it.
So this F1 2020 USA setup makes a clear choice. All the rear wing the game has, little at the front, and the anti-roll bars and differential do the rest. It is a time trial setup, saved with 10 kg of fuel.
F1 2020 USA setup
| Setting | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| Wing | 3 | 11 |
| Camber | -2.50 | -2.00 |
| Toe | 0.07 | 0.20 |
| Suspension | 1 | 9 |
| Anti-roll bar | 1 | 10 |
| Ride height | 4 | 3 |
| Tyre pressure | 21.0 psi | 19.5 psi |
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel load | 10 kg |
| Differential on throttle | 60% |
| Differential off throttle | 50% |
| Brake pressure | 100% |
| Front brake bias | 50% |
In F1 2020 the wings, suspension, anti-roll bars and ride height all use a scale from 1 to 11. The differential goes from 50%, fully open, to 100%, locked.
This setup was collected for the site in 2022 from a fast time trial lap, like the rest of my F1 2020 setups. Use it as a base and adjust it with the table further down.
The lap on board
Why this setup works at COTA
The wings. 3 and 11. The rear wing is at the maximum, the same as Monaco, Hungary and Singapore. But those three run 7 or 9 at the front. This one runs 3. The gap of eight clicks is the biggest in my list, shared with Mexico. The idea is a rear that never moves, in the sweepers of the first sector and in the long right of turns 16 to 18, and a front that is free of drag.
The differential. 60% on throttle, 50% off. Only four of my 22 setups go above 50% on throttle. COTA has three slow exits that lead onto straights: turn 1, turn 11 and turn 20. The extra lock makes both rear wheels push there. Off throttle it stays fully open, so the car still rotates on the way in.
The toe. 0.07 at the front, a little more than the 0.05 that most of my setups run. It makes the front more willing on turn in. With so little front wing, the car needs that help.
The tyre pressures. 21.0 psi front and 19.5 psi rear, the lowest the menu allows.
Soft front, stiff rear, nose up
With that much more wing at the rear than at the front, the car should understeer everywhere. The suspension is what stops it.
The anti-roll bars are 1 at the front and 10 at the rear. The front is as soft as it goes, so the front tyres get all the grip they can find. The rear is stiff, so the car rotates. Springs go the same way, 1 and 9.
Ride height is 4 at the front and 3 at the rear. The front is higher than the rear, and that only happens on three of my setups: Britain, USA and Brazil. A higher front gives you room over the kerbs in the first sector, where you use a lot of them.
If the car still pushes in turns 3 to 6, do not touch the bars first. Add a click of front wing.
The brakes
Brake pressure 100%, front bias 50%. Every setup in my F1 2020 database runs 100% pressure.
Turn 12, at the end of the back straight, is the biggest stop. Turn 1 looks bigger than it is, because the hill slows the car for you. Turn 11 is the one where the inside front locks, because you brake while the car is still turning. If it does, go to 95%.
What to change
One change at a time, three laps, then decide.
| Problem | Change | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Understeer in turns 3 to 6 | Front wing 3 to 5 | More front downforce in the fast sweepers |
| Slow on the back straight | Rear wing 11 to 9 | Less drag, with a looser rear in the first sector |
| The rear snaps in the fast changes of direction | Rear anti-roll bar 10 to 8 | A softer rear bar gives the rear more grip |
| The car pushes on the throttle out of slow corners | On throttle differential 60% to 55% | Less lock lets the car turn on the power |
| The rear moves on the way into turn 12 | Off throttle differential 50% to 55% | More lock steadies the rear on entry |
| The front washes out in turns 16 to 18 | Front camber -2.50 to -2.70 | More camber helps the loaded front tyre in a long corner |
| Front tyres lock into turn 11 | Brake pressure 100% to 95% | Less peak pressure, easier to hold at the limit |
For a race
Before a 25% or 50% race I would change this:
- Front wing 3 to 4. Less sliding at the front in the first sector, so the front tyres last.
- Rear wing 11 to 10. You need to be able to defend and attack on the back straight.
- Rear anti-roll bar 10 to 8. Easier on the rear tyres over a stint.
- Brake pressure 100% to 95%. A heavy car locks more easily into turn 11 and turn 12.
- 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 keep the 60% on throttle, soften the rear bar to 8 and take the brake pressure down to around 90%.
F1 2020 manages the ERS for you and gives you an overtake button. Use it on the back straight after turn 11. That is where most of the passing is done, into turn 12.
Where the lap time is at COTA
- Turn 1. Uphill, with the apex on the crest. The climb does part of the braking, so you can go later than it looks. Late apex, and use the downhill exit.
- Turns 3 to 6. The fast sweepers. A lift, not a brake, and smooth hands. Each corner sets up the next.
- Turns 7 to 9. It gets tighter. Turn 7 needs a real brake. Turn 9 is over a crest, so wait a moment before the throttle.
- Turn 10. Blind and downhill. Flat in time trial.
- Turn 11. The hairpin before the back straight. Late apex, early throttle. The most valuable exit of the lap.
- Turn 12. The biggest stop. Brake straight and do not go too deep, because the next corners come fast.
- Turns 13 to 15. Slow and tight. Turn 15 goes on for longer than you think.
- Turns 16 to 18. One long right with more than one apex. Steady throttle, and let the car move out slowly. The big rear wing earns its place here.
- Turns 19 and 20. Turn 19 is fast and downhill, and easy to run wide. Turn 20 is a slow left onto the main straight.
If you take one thing from this page: do not attack turn 3. The first sector is a chain. Go in a little slower and the speed stays with you to turn 9.
Austin in 2020
The 2020 cars never raced at Circuit of the Americas. The United States Grand Prix was formally cancelled in July 2020, together with Brazil, Canada and Mexico City. Only 17 of the 22 planned races were run that year, and none of them was in the Americas.
The last race before that was on 3 November 2019. Valtteri Bottas took pole in 1:32.029 and won. Lewis Hamilton was second, which was enough for his sixth world title. Max Verstappen was third.
The lap is 5.513 km with 20 corners, and the real race is 56 laps.
More F1 2020 setups
All 22 tracks are on the F1 2020 setups page. The track before Austin in the game's calendar is Suzuka, with my F1 2020 Japan setup, and the next one is Mexico City, with my F1 2020 Mexico setup.
For the same track in other games, here are my F1 2019 United States setup, my F1 2018 USA setup, my F1 2021 Austin setup and my F1 25 USA setup. The values do not carry over from one game to the next.
FAQ
What is the best F1 2020 setup for the USA?
Front wing 3, rear wing 11, differential 60% on throttle and 50% off, suspension 1 and 9, anti-roll bars 1 and 10, ride height 4 and 3, brake pressure 100% with 50% front bias, and tyres at 21.0 and 19.5 psi.
What wing levels should I run at COTA in F1 2020?
3 at the front and 11 at the rear for time trial. For a race I would run 4 and 10.
Why is the front ride height higher than the rear?
To give the front room over the kerbs in the first sector. It is unusual. Only three of my 22 setups do it.
Can I use this USA setup in a race?
Yes. I would go to wings 4 and 10, soften the rear bar to 8 and lower the brake pressure to 95%.
Does this setup work with a controller?
Yes. I would soften the rear bar to 8 and run around 90% brake pressure.
Was there a United States Grand Prix in 2020?
No. It was cancelled in July 2020. The last race before that was in 2019. Valtteri Bottas won it, and Lewis Hamilton took his sixth title.
How long is Circuit of the Americas in F1 2020?
5.513 km with 20 corners. The real race is 56 laps.