In this post, we delve into how to warm up tires in F1 24, guided by Setup and Telemetry Specialist Massimo Zecchinelli.
Despite improvements in tire physics simulation in F1 24, some unexplained gaps remain, even considering the positive direction taken with F1 23 regarding wear and temperature management.
In F1 24, the way we warm up tires has changed, which is crucial to understand.
Often, people talk about "copy-paste," but in reality, things change significantly.

Last year, the development team, led by David Greco at the time, introduced heat transmission from brakes to tires via radiation.
Imagine having one warm hand and one cold hand.
The warm hand was near a heat source, while the other stayed cold.
When you put your hands together, the heat transfers from the warm to the cold one through conduction.
However, this feature is NOT implemented in F1 24.
The heat radiation from the braking system is almost zero, which left us puzzled.

This year, the method to warm up the tires is completely different.
In F1 23, we kept the brake pedal pressed for long stretches in the out-lap, also moving the brake balance to the front, around 70%.
In F1 24, this will actually be HARMFUL!
It will lower the carcass temperature even more.
Many drivers’ first reaction was to go back to using the so-called "waves" during the out lap in qualifying and the formation lap.
However, this is not the best method to use.
It stresses the tires, leading to premature wear that can be avoided.

Practical Example in Canada
Using telemetry, we conducted two different formation laps on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve to see what happens when using the wave method versus properly warming up the tires.
We will analyze the results, exploring the most effective strategy to keep the tires at the right temperature without compromising their lifespan.



By the time we reached the starting grid, the temperatures were as follows:
- Front: 76° and 72°
- Rear: 74° and 73°
The wear was 2% for all tires except the front right, which was 1%.

Pirelli selected the C3, C4, and C5 compounds for this circuit, the softest available.

The C3, the hard compound, has an operational range of 85° to 95° for the carcass.
Interestingly, once the tire warmers are removed, the internal temperature of the tires starts at 70°.
The gain during the formation lap is minimal, between 3° and 6°, still more than 10° away from the working window.
Using the correct method involves a good rhythm during the warm-up lap, accompanied by a few wide "waves" on the long straights.



The final recorded temperatures were:
- Front: 75° and 73°
- Rear: 79° and 78°
The front temperatures remained unchanged, while the rear gained 6°.
Most importantly, there was 0% wear on the front and just 1% on the rear.
The operational window for the front tires is still distant, which is due to a decision by the developers.

The C3, with 10° less than the operational window, loses 0.60% grip.
In case of a race in a lobby, be careful with other drivers who might still prefer to warm up the tires with "waves," to avoid disqualification due to accidental contact.
Practical Example in Belgium
For qualifying, the concept of how to warm up tires in F1 24 remains the same.
Let's move to Spa, where internal temperatures are more likely to drop on the long straights.
Here, Pirelli opts for a C4 as the soft tire.



By performing a lap at a good pace, like in Canada, the temperatures at the finish line were:
- Front: 78°, with no grip loss (0.20%)
- Rear: 83°, in the window.
The wear was negligible (1% on the rear).

Conclusions
Remember, races don’t end at the first corner (accidents and errors permitting).
The goal is always to be gentle with the tires, having good technique and an excellent setup.
For example, if the front tires wear out more than the rear ones, the car will lose balance and direction, making it difficult to drive.
The dynamic behavior of the tires in F1 24, with consequent wear imbalance, requires a setup that ensures the most uniform degradation possible to maintain vehicle stability over many laps.
Using time trial setups, which are incorrect regarding pressures, even with the best start and tire warming, will lead to high wear after 5-6 laps, especially in 50% and 100% races, forcing you to reduce performance or, worse, make an early pit stop.
Therefore, it’s highly discouraged to use time trial setups for races in F1 24.
The ideal is to have optimized race setups that consider all track conditions:
- Asphalt
- Tire type
- Fuel on board
- Different grip conditions
A race setup will make driving easier, more stable, and predictable, allowing you to push with greater confidence.
Fortunately, at ADT Esports Academy, we have worked hard on the Setup Pack for this year as well.

Thanks to the use of F1's physical engine data, telemetry to compare and test tire wear, and the thousands of kilometers driven by our coaches, the setups we create are suitable for various driving styles, ensuring a high level of adaptability.
If you're interested in the ADT Setup Pack for F1 24, click the button below.
See you soon and when in the doubt, flat out!