Automobilista 2 | The Ultimate Formula 1 Season Guide

When it comes to retro content in sim racing, it is hard to ignore Automobilista 2 – the selection is overwhelming, especially for Formula 1 fans. The sim currently offers no less than 15 Formula 1 seasons, spanning six decades – but which exact years are represented is only undoubtedly made clear in very few cases. To give you a better overview of the historic F1 content, we have assembled a guide to the different classes for you.

No less than 42 cars from six decades – the amount of choice is a sight to behold and cannot be found anywhere else, except with mods. The best part: Most of the F1 cars in Automobilista 2 are free and already in the sim, all classes can be enjoyed without additional DLC.

Compared to the first version of this guide, lots of additions have been made to the F1 roster in AMS2 as of May 2023, so we felt it was time for an update. In doing this, we have also added the accurate tracks of the respective season and, if available, linked to skin packs.

RaceDepartment would like to use this article to call all Automobilista 2 modders: To avoid confusion while in game, changing the names of the classes to include their respective seasons would be an enormous help for a lot of sim racers – if it is even possible. Feel free to use this guide as a base if you want to make life easier for them!

What other F1 seasons would you want to see represented in Automobilista 2? What are your favorites that are already in the sim? Let us know on Twitter at @RaceDepartment or in the comments below.

Continue reading​

• 1966/1967 - Formula Vintage Gen 1
• 1969/1970 - Formula Vintage Gen 2
• 1974 - Formula Retro Gen 1
• 1978 - Formula Retro Gen 2
• 1983 - Formula Retro Gen 3
• 1986 - Formula Classic Gen 1
• 1988 - Formula Classic Gen 2
• 1990 - Formula Classic Gen 3
• 1991 - Formula Classic Gen 4
• 1995 - Formula V12
• 1997 - Formula V10 Gen 1
• 2001 - Formula V10 Gen 2
• 2011 - Formula Reiza
• 2019 - Formula Ultimate 2019
• 2022/2023 - Formula Ultimate Gen 2
• Full Article

The oldest F1 season in AMS2 does not have one easily identifiable year in particular – two are possible: Both the V8 and V12 cars of the class feature three-liter engines, which were brought back by the 1966 rules. The cars of that year and the following looked very similar, the V8 model could hint at 1967, though – its engine is modeled after the legendary Ford-Cosworth DFV that was introduced that year.

Cars​

Formula Vintage Gen 1 Model 1 (V8)
Formula Vintage Gen 1 Model 2 (V12)

Accurate Tracks​

Kyalami 1976
Spa 1970 without chicane
Silverstone 1975 no chicane
Nordschleife 1971
Monza 1971

1967 Skin Pack​

Just two years later, the cars had grown wings: While the models that formed the base was still obvious, the cars did sport a considerably changed appearance. The first wings were brought onto the grid in 1968, but by 1969, the outrageously high wing constructions of the very beginning had been banned already, meaning the cars featured wings closer to the actual chassis. Four models make up this class, and the Brabham BT26A was mainly raced in 1969, while the Lotus 49C only saw competition starting in 1970 – to determine the exact year of the class is therefore impossible.

Cars​

Brabham BT26A
Formula Vintage Gen 2 Model 1 (V8)
Formula Vintage Gen 2 Model 2 (V12)
Lotus 49C

Accurate Tracks​

Kyalami 1976
Spa 1970 /w chicane (1970)
Silverstone 1975 no chicane (1969)
Nordschleife 1971 (1969)
Hockenheim 1977 (1970)
Spielberg 1974
Monza 1971

1969 Skin Pack​

At five cars, this class is represented even better than the the Vintage Gen 2. The only season that the Lotus 72E, the McLaren M23 and the Brabham BT44 competed against each other is 1974 – although the cars could be seen on track in 1975 as well, with Brabham using a B-version that is not available in the sim. Also, Emerson Fittipaldi celebrated his second world title in 1974, and with Reiza being a Brazilian studio, it is likely that this is the year chosen by them.

Cars​

Brabham BT44
Formula Retro Gen 1 Model 1 (V12)
Formula Retro Gen 1 Model 2 (V8)
Lotus 72E
McLaren M23

Accurate Tracks​

Buenos Aires No. 15
Interlagos 1976
Kyalami 1976
Nordschleife 1971
Spielberg 1974
Watkins Glen GP (Boot, no chicane)

1974 Skin Pack​

The Lotus 79 was used in both 1978 and 1979 and is famous for kicking off the Ground Effect era. A championship winner in the hands of Mario Andretti in 1978, the car sees competition with the Brabham BT46B – the legendary Fan Car, which won the only Grand Prix it was ever raced in – the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix. Thus, all signs point to 1978 as the season the class is representing, the only exception being the Brabham BT49, which was introduced in late 1979.

Cars​

Brabham BT46B
Brabham BT49
Formula Retro Gen 2 (V8)
Lotus 79

Accurate Tracks​

Buenos Aires No. 15
Jacarepagua 1988
Kyalami 1976
Hockenheim 1977
Spielberg 1977
Monza 1993

1978 Skin Pack​

No more Ground Effect, but increasingly powerful turbocharged engines – the season in question is 1983. The first year after the ban on Ground Effect aerodynamics saw Nelson Piquet take his second world title in his Brabham-BMW BT52, which was introduced to the sim in the Brazilian Legends DLC. Additionally, the McLaren MP4/1C of 1983 takes to the grid, easily identifiable by its slimmer sidepods compared to the 1982 version.

Cars​

Brabham BT52
Formula Retro Gen 3 DFY (naturally aspirated V8)
Formula Retro Gen 3 Turbo (V6 Turbo)
McLaren MP4/1C

Accurate Tracks​

Jacarepagua 1988
Imola 1988
Spa-Francorchamps 1993
Silverstone 1975
Hockenheim 1988
Spielberg 1977
Monza 1991
Kyalami 1976

1983 Skin Pack​

The height of turbo-powered engines – never has F1 seen more horsepower! Two cars without obvious real-life counterparts plus the Lotus 98T as driven by Ayrton Senna and Johnny Dumfries induce tons of wheelspin in this class, which is no surprise at 1300 and 1380 horses respectively. Model 1 bears some similarity to the Williams FW11, while Model 2 could is likely based on the Arrows A9. Careful with that throttle pedal!

Cars​

Formula Classic Gen 1 Model 1 (1300 HP)
Formula Classic Gen 1 Model 2 (1380 HP)
Lotus 98T

Accurate Tracks​

Jacarepagua 1988
Jerez 1988
Imola 1988
Spa-Francorchamps 1993
Hockenheim 1988
Spielberg 1977
Monza 1991
Cascais 1988
Adelaide 1988

1986 Skin Pack​

Before their reintroduction in 2014, turbo engines had last been used in 1988. In anticipation for the 1989 season, some teams were already racing naturally aspirated engines, which the class with its three cars reflects. Both V8 vehicles do not differ too much except for weight and power, the V6 version sports a less powerful turbo engine compared to 1986 – which was the right one to have for McLaren in the real 1988 season, as Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost famously won every race but the Italian Grand Prix that year. Their MP4/4 has joined the class with the addition of the Brazilian Legends DLC.

Cars​

Formula Classic Gen 2 Model 1 (V8)
Formula Classic Gen 2 Model 2 (V8)
Formula Classic Gen 2 Model 3 (V6 Turbo)
McLaren MP4/4

Accurate Tracks​

Jacarepagua 1988
Imola 1988
Montreal 1988
Hockenheim 1988
Spa-Francorchamps 1993
Monza 1991
Cascais 1988
Jerez 1988
Adelaide 1988

1988 Skin Pack​

F-Classic Gen 3 used to be what is now Gen 4, as the McLaren MP4/5B was introduced with the Brazilian Legends DLC to create a new class set a year earlier. True to the actual 1990 season, there is a nice variety of engine layouts, as well as paddle and H-shifters, all fitting in nicely with a lot of the vintage circuits AMS2 has to offer.

Cars​

Formula Classic Gen 3 Model 1 (Manual V12, 725 HP)
Formula Classic Gen 3 Model 2 (Sequential V8, 632 HP)
Formula Classic Gen 3 Model 3 (Manual V10, 734 HP)
Formula Classic Gen 3 Model 4 (Manual V8, 661 HP)
McLaren MP4/5B

Accurate Tracks​

Interlagos
Imola 1988
Montreal 1988
Hockenheim 1988
Spa-Francorchamps 1993
Monza 1991
Cascais 1988
Jerez 1988
Adelaide 1988

Ayrton Senna wins the world championship for the third time, Michael Schumacher makes his debut – 1991 was an exciting season without a doubt. The three generic cars of the F-Classic Gen 4 class in AMS2 are from that year – the V12 car is a Ferrari 643, the V10 has the characteristic appearance of the Williams FW14, and the V8 is a Benetton B191 – including the H-pattern shifter. The Brazilian Legends DLC also added the McLaren MP4/6, Senna's final World Championship winning car.

Cars​

Formula Classic Gen 4 Model 1 (V12)
Formula Classic Gen 4 Model 2 (V10)
Formula Classic Gen 4 Model 3 (V8)
McLaren MP4/6

Accurate Tracks​

Interlagos
Imola 1988
Silverstone 1988
Hockenheim 1988
Spa-Francorchamps 1993
Monza 1991
Cascais 1988
Adelaide 1988

1991 Skin Pack​

After the 1995 season, no V12 engine was raced again in Formula 1 – before Toyota made its foray onto the grid in 2002, they were considering doing so with a twelve-cylinder motor but decided on a V10 instead. To date, the Ferrari 412T2 is the final F1 car to be powered by a V12 engine, and it is undoubtably the base for the Formula V12 class in AMS2.

Car​

Formula V12

Accurate Tracks​

Interlagos
Buenos Aires No. 6
Imola 2001
Hockenheim 2001
Spa-Francorchamps 1993
Adelaide 1988

1995 Skin Pack​

The first generation of the Formula V10 class is obviously meant to represent a single season as well – thanks to the McLaren MP4/12 that Reiza has brought into the sim, complete with its infamous second brake pedal. Thus, it is possible to relive the final year until 2017 in which two-meter wide F1 cars were raced.

Cars​

Formula V10 Gen1 Model 1
McLaren MP4/12

Accurate Tracks​

Interlagos
Buenos Aires No. 6
Imola 2001
Montreal
Silverstone 2001
Hockenheim 2001
Spa-Francorchamps 1993
Red Bull Ring
Jerez

1997 Skin Pack​

Grooved tires, a narrower track and screaming V10 engines – the second generation of the class could be both the 2000 and 2001 season. Indicative of the latter: The cars feature traction control, which was only allowed again in 2001. Despite this, no one should hold back on enjoying the 2000 season with the fitting skin pack.

Car​

Formula V10 Gen2

Accurate Tracks​

Interlagos
Imola 2001
Red Bull Ring
Montreal
Silverstone 2001
Hockenheim 2001
Spa-Francorchamps 1993
Monza

2000 Skin Pack​

2001 Skin Pack​

The V8 era with skinny rear wings and slicks is present in AMS2 as well – the Formula Reiza is a carbon copy of the Red Bull RB7. With this car, Sebastian Vettel won his second world championship while the team claimed victory twelve times in 19 races – eleven of which were scored by Vettel. The car works well for the 2012 season, too, which has a full skin pack available.

Car​

Formula Reiza

Accurate Tracks​

Monaco
Montreal
Silverstone GP
Nürburgring GP
Monza
Kansai GP
Interlagos

2012 Skin Pack​

The only class that does not need further investigation regarding its year – it is stated in the car’s name. The era of re-widened hybrid F1 cars is represented by this class in AMS2.

Car:
Formula Ultimate Gen 2019

Reiza’s most modern F1-based addition to the sim leaves no room for doubt – this is their interpretation of an F1 car under the new-for-2022 set of rules. Not only does it look fantastic, it drives just as well – nothing is in the way of enjoying a 2022 F1 car in the sim. It also lends itself well to the 2023 grid.

Car​

Formula Ultimate Gen2

Accurate Tracks​

Imola
Monaco
Montreal
Silverstone GP
Red Bull Ring
Spa-Francorchamps
Monza
Kansai GP
Interlagos

2022 Skin Pack​

2023 Skin Pack​