A new Formula 1 season is upon us, and the Red Bull Racing Team already looks poised to repeat (again) with their number one driver Max Verstappen continuing to look untouchable.

But Formula 1 is much more than just those who take the podium on race day. It’s a spectacle enjoyed by the world over that sees 20 of the greatest drivers behind the wheels of some of the most technologically advanced racing vehicles ever created, where mere seconds and inches are the only things separating them from one another. And no game captures that better right now that the fantastic EA Sports F1 series.

But what goes into bringing one of those advanced racing vehicles into a high-octane racing game like F1 24? For those answers, EA Sports recently chatted with BWT Alpine F1 Team Chief Engineer Pierre Genon to learn more about what it takes to bring a Formula 1 car to F1 24, how aerodynamics is incorporated into the game, and the challenge of staying up to date on the latest car specifications and regulations.

EA Sports: What is it like working with EA Sports F1 to bring your car to the virtual world?

BWT Alpine F1 Team Chief Engineer Pierre Genon: It’s pretty seamless from start to finish. A credit really to the skill of the people digitalizing the assets. We have to produce artwork to create all the assets in reality for the team. So, we repurpose and share these same assets with EA Sports to enable them to create digital replicas of the real thing.

EA Sports: What is the first track you want to try the A524 on EA Sports F1 24?

Pierre Genon: The drivers don’t need to worry about me taking their seat! Australia historically was the first track of the season and that was always my nemesis. It’s the track I have raced at the most. Spa is probably my favourite – possibly because I know it so well.

EA Sports: Tracks like Spa that mix high speed straights with complex technical corners are some of the most challenging in EA Sports F1 to find a perfect car setup. How do you approach that same challenge and compromise in real life?

Pierre Genon: We always start from simulation, which is pretty good these days at guiding you to the fastest laptime. However, what is harder to simulate virtually is the ability to overtake other cars or keep them behind. For that, although we are developing simulation tools, we still use subjective judgement and the drivers in particular can have their views on the best compromise for “racing” or following other cars.

EA Sports: What data is given to EA Sports to ensure your cars are accurately represented in-game?

Pierre Genon: We provide the latest aero release to EA Sports to use in the game. It’s highly confidential material which is entrusted to them, however the model isn’t always exactly the same as the one that goes out on track for the first race of the season.

EA Sports: How do you incorporate aerodynamics and other technical aspects into the car’s design and functionality?

Pierre Genon: Aerodynamics are a major factor in the performance of a Formula 1 car that it is the other way around. We have to integrate “inconvenient” mechanical components in the car’s design without getting too far away from the ideal aerodynamic concepts.

EA Sports: How much collaboration was there with the team drivers and mechanics in the engineering process?

Pierre Genon: We have various mechanisms to ensure that the feedback from mechanics is considered in the design of future cars. Obviously within reason, as it’s more important to have a faster car than one where maintenance is easy. Drivers collaborate in the engineering process mainly by providing feedback as to how the car is behaving from their perspective and what traits of the handling prevents them from pushing harder. High quality driver feedback is preferred to engineering suggestions, which are best left to the engineers.

EA Sports: How do you adapt to engineering changes due to changes in car specifications or regulations?

Pierre Genon: With consistent regulations there is a relatively slower pace of development of engineering concepts, but rather a constant process of refinement. Major regulation changes, such as in 2022 or soon in 2026, have far more impact and the first key challenge is usually to understand which aspect of the performance of the car will become relatively more or less important, so that we put our resource in the correct areas.

EA Sports: What is your favorite part of the engineering process and why?

Pierre Genon: The above, getting to understand a new set of technical regulations and the challenges they pose.

EA Sports: How does it feel to know the car you have been working on is in EA Sports F1?

Pierre Genon It makes me very proud on behalf of my team.

Thanks to Pierre Genon for taking the time to talk with EA Sports. Now we’re super excited to experience what’s in store for with EA Sports F1 24, the official game of the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship. With the ability to showcase your champion in a quest for an illustrious F1 Career, as well as getting hands on with the newest handling and physics, driven by EA Sports Dynamic Handling, fans of Formula 1 racing are in for a real treat when it launches for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on May 31, 2024.

F1 24 is currently available for pre-order on the Xbox Store in two versions: Standard Edition and Champions Edition. If you order F1 24 Champions Edition by April 24, 2024, you can be one of the first to try out the Alpine and extra 2024 liveries, as well as access the Alpine and other F1 esports liveries right away in F1 23 Time Trial. Also, you can get the Alpine and other F1 esports liveries in F1 24 when the game comes out.

For even more information on EA Sports F1 24, be sure to visit their official site.