The Podium DD2 and the CSL Elite sit at the two ends of the Fanatec range. One is a 25 Nm direct drive base. The other is a belt driven base with about a quarter of that. The game menu is the same for both, but the base settings are very different.
Here is what I would set on each.
Podium DD2 tuning menu
Set these on the wheel or in the Fanatec software on PC. The values are stored in the base.
| Setting | Value | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| SEN | Auto | Steering range. The game sets it |
| FF | 45 | Total force of the base |
| FFS | Peak | How the force is scaled |
| NDP | 22 | Natural damper |
| NFR | 1 | Natural friction |
| NIN | 6 | Natural inertia |
| INT | 2 | Smoothing of the signal |
| FEI | 100 | Sharpness of the effects |
| FOR | 100 | Force signal from the game |
| SPR | 100 | Spring signal from the game |
| DPR | 100 | Damper signal from the game |
| SHO | 100 | Vibration motors in the rim |
| BLI | Default | Brake level indicator |
| BRF | Default | Brake force, set it for your pedals |
FF 45. This is the important one. At 45 the DD2 is at less than half of its force, and it is still heavier than any other wheel in my F1 2021 wheel settings guide. A real F1 car has power steering. You do not need 25 Nm to drive one, and you will not be faster with it.
NDP 22, NFR 1, NIN 6. A big motor with no damping shakes on the straights. These three give the wheel a little weight of its own, so it feels like a steering column and not like a bare motor.
INT 2. The DD2 is smooth already. A low value keeps the detail.
The Podium DD1 uses the same menu. It has 20 Nm, so I would start at FF 55 with everything else the same.
CSL Elite tuning menu
The CSL Elite has a shorter menu.
| Setting | Value | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| SEN | Auto | Steering range. The game sets it |
| FF | 100 | Total force of the base |
| SHO | 100 | Vibration motors in the rim |
| BLI | Default | Brake level indicator |
| DRI | -02 | Drift mode. Negative adds damping |
| FOR | 100 | Force signal from the game |
| SPR | 100 | Spring signal from the game |
| DPR | 100 | Damper signal from the game |
| BRF | Default | Brake force, set it for your pedals |
| FEI | 80 | Sharpness of the effects |
FF 100. The belt driven base needs all of its force.
DRI -02. A small amount of damping on the base keeps the wheel calm on the straights. That is why the wheel damper in the game can stay at 0.
FEI 80. Slightly softer effects. The belt and the toothed pulleys can feel notchy with sharp kerb effects at 100.
F1 2021 force feedback settings
Go to Settings, then Controls, Vibration and Force Feedback. Select the wheel, press Edit and open Vibration and Force Feedback. These values are for both bases.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Vibration and force feedback | On |
| Strength | 70 |
| On track effects | 25 |
| Rumble strip effects | 20 |
| Off track effects | 20 |
| Wheel damper | 0 |
| Understeer enhance | Off |
How to set the weight on a DD2
Do not use the game slider to make a DD2 lighter or heavier. Leave the game at 70 and change FF on the base, 5 at a time. The game then always sends a signal with room at the top, and the base decides how much of it reaches your hands.
On the CSL Elite it is the other way round. FF stays at 100 and you change the game strength.
Rumble strip at 20
On a strong base, kerb effects hit hard. At 20 you know when you are on the kerb and your wrists survive a race at Monza or Austria, where you use the kerbs on every lap.
Calibration settings
In the same screen, open Calibration.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Steering deadzone | 0 |
| Steering linearity | 0 (5 is optional) |
| Steering saturation | 0 |
| Throttle deadzone | 0 |
| Throttle linearity | 0 |
| Throttle saturation | 0 |
| Brake deadzone | 0 |
| Brake linearity | 0 |
| Brake saturation | 0 |
Steering linearity at 5 makes the first degrees of steering a little less direct. On a direct drive base some drivers like it on the long straights. Start at 0 and try 5 only if the car feels nervous around the centre.
With a load cell brake, set BRF on the base so that your hardest push in a race shows 100 in the test screen. Do not use brake saturation for that.
What to change when it does not feel right
One change at a time, three laps each.
| Problem | Change | Why |
|---|---|---|
| DD2 too heavy | FF down 5 at a time | Less total force |
| DD2 too light | FF up 5 at a time, to 60 at most | More total force |
| Fast corners all feel the same | Game strength down to 60 | The signal is clipping |
| DD2 shakes on the straights | NDP up to 30 | More damping at the centre |
| DD2 feels slow | NIN down to 3, NDP down to 15 | Less inertia and damping |
| Kerbs too harsh | Rumble strip to 10, or FEI down to 80 | Softer effects |
| CSL Elite too light | Game strength up 5 at a time, to 85 at most | More force, until it clips |
| CSL Elite notchy | FEI down to 60 | Softer effects |
| CSL Elite swings on the straights | DRI to -03 | More damping on the base |
Safety on a DD2
A 25 Nm base can hurt you. If the car hits a wall at 300 km/h, the wheel moves fast and hard. Keep your thumbs on the outside of the rim, mount the base on a rigid cockpit and know where the emergency stop is.
Next steps
- Every track is in my F1 2021 setups hub.
- Set the view: F1 2021 camera settings.
- Then the driving: F1 2021 tips.
- The small direct drive base: F1 2021 Fanatec CSL DD settings.
- Other wheels: Logitech G29 and G920 and Thrustmaster T300, TX and TMX.
- Same base, other games: F1 2020 Podium DD2 settings and ACC Fanatec settings.
FAQ
What are the best Podium DD2 settings for F1 2021?
On the base: SEN Auto, FF 45, FFS Peak, NDP 22, NFR 1, NIN 6, INT 2, FEI 100. In the game: strength 70, on track effects 25, rumble strip 20, off track 20, wheel damper 0 and understeer enhance Off.
What are the best CSL Elite settings for F1 2021?
On the base: SEN Auto, FF 100, DRI -02, FEI 80. In the game, the same values as the DD2: strength 70, on track 25, rumble strip 20, off track 20, wheel damper 0.
Why is FF only 45 on the DD2?
Because 25 Nm is far more than an F1 car with power steering puts in your hands. At 45 you have a heavy, detailed wheel that you can hold for a full race.
Do these settings work on the Podium DD1?
Yes, with a higher FF. The DD1 has 20 Nm, so I would start at 55 and keep everything else.
Should I use steering linearity on a Fanatec wheel?
Start at 0. Try 5 if the car feels nervous around the centre on the straights. More than that makes the steering uneven.
Do these settings work on PlayStation and Xbox?
The tuning menu is stored in the base, so yes, on any platform your base supports. The game values are the same everywhere.