A Thrustmaster T300 or TX is a good wheel for F1 2021. The belt makes it smooth, and it has enough force to tell you what the front tyres are doing. You only need a few changes from the default values.
Here is what I would set in the control panel and in the game.
Thrustmaster control panel settings
On PC, open the Thrustmaster control panel before you start the game.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Rotation | 900° |
| Constant | 100% |
| Periodic | 100% |
| Spring | 100% |
| Damper | 0% |
| Auto center | By the game |
Rotation 900°. Leave it there and let the game limit the range for the car. An F1 car needs about 360° from lock to lock.
Constant and periodic 100%. These are the main forces and the vibrations the game sends. Keep both at 100% and set the level inside the game. If you lower them here, you lower them in every game you play.
Damper 0%. The belt already adds some friction. More damping from the driver makes the wheel slow.
On PlayStation and Xbox there is no control panel. The wheel runs its default values and you only use the game menu.
F1 2021 force feedback settings for the T300, TX and TMX
Go to Settings, then Controls, Vibration and Force Feedback. Select the wheel, press Edit and open Vibration and Force Feedback.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Vibration and force feedback | On |
| Strength | 80 |
| On track effects | 35 |
| Rumble strip effects | 40 |
| Off track effects | 20 |
| Wheel damper | 10 |
| Understeer enhance | Off |
The values for Logitech and Fanatec wheels are in my F1 2021 wheel settings guide. If you came from a G29, the Logitech page shows how different the numbers are.
Strength 80
The T300 has about twice the force of a gear driven Logitech, so it can run a higher strength before it clips. At 80 you feel the weight grow in the fast corners and the wheel still goes light when the front tyres give up.
If the fast corners all feel the same, go down to 70. If it is too light for you, go up in steps of 5.
Effects at 35 and 40
A belt does not rattle like gears do, so you can run more road and kerb feel than on a Logitech. On track effects at 35 gives you the bumps. Rumble strip at 40 tells you clearly when a wheel is on the kerb, and that matters in this game, because some kerbs spin the car.
Understeer enhance Off
This option makes the wheel go light when the front slides. The wheel already goes light on its own when the front tyres lose grip. With the option on, the effect is exaggerated and you start to correct slides that are not there. I would leave it off.
Calibration settings
In the same screen, open Calibration.
| 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 |
Start with everything at 0. Then open the test screen and push each pedal.
- The brake does not reach 100. Raise brake saturation until your normal hard push shows 100. The standard two pedal set is light, so this is rare. With the T3PA or T-LCM pedals, check it.
- The throttle or brake bar moves with your foot off. Add 1 or 2 of deadzone on that pedal.
Some guides add steering linearity to calm the car on the straights. I would not. It makes the steering less direct around the centre, and then more direct later, so your hands never learn one ratio.
TMX and T150
The TMX and the T150 are the cheaper bases. They are weaker than the T300 and they use gears together with the belt. Start from the same numbers. If the wheel rattles on the kerbs, lower rumble strip effects to 25 and on track effects to 20. If the fast corners feel flat, lower the strength to 70.
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 70 | The motor is clipping |
| Wheel too light | Strength up 5 at a time, to 90 at most | More force, until it clips |
| Too much shaking on the straights | On track effects down to 20 | Less road noise |
| Kerbs too violent | Rumble strip effects down to 25 | Less vibration |
| You cannot feel the kerbs | Rumble strip effects up to 50 | More vibration |
| Wheel swings on the straights | Wheel damper up to 15 | More damping |
| Slow to catch a slide | Wheel damper to 0 | Nothing works against your hands |
| Wheel feels weak after an hour | Take a break, check the fan is free | The base lowers the force when it is hot |
| Steering on screen does not match your hands | Control panel rotation back to 900° | The game sets the range from there |
Next steps
- The car matters more than the wheel. Every track is in my F1 2021 setups hub.
- Set the view: F1 2021 camera settings.
- Then the driving: F1 2021 tips.
- On a direct drive base: F1 2021 Fanatec CSL DD settings.
- Same wheel, other games: F1 2020 Thrustmaster settings and ACC Thrustmaster settings.
FAQ
What are the best Thrustmaster T300 settings for F1 2021?
Control panel at rotation 900°, constant, periodic and spring at 100% and damper at 0%. In the game: strength 80, on track effects 35, rumble strip 40, off track 20, wheel damper 10 and understeer enhance Off.
Are the TX settings the same as the T300?
Yes. The TX is the Xbox version of the same base. Use the same numbers.
Do these settings work for the TMX and the T150?
As a start, yes. Those bases are weaker and have gears, so lower the effects if the wheel rattles and lower the strength if the fast corners feel flat.
What rotation should I set on a Thrustmaster wheel for F1 2021?
Leave the control panel at 900° and let the game set the range. An F1 car needs about 360° from lock to lock.
Why does my Thrustmaster wheel lose force in long races?
The base protects itself when it gets hot and lowers the force. Keep the fan free, do not cover the base and lower the strength a little if it happens often.
Do these settings work on PS4, PS5 and Xbox?
Yes. The game values are the same on every platform. On console you skip the control panel.