F1 2021: Portugal (Portimão) Setup Guide (Wet and Dry) and Tips

Just a couple of months after F1 2021 launched, the Portimão Circuit was added to the game, with Imola and Jeddah to follow.

The Portimão Circuit is often seen as one of the best race tracks across the world, and finally getting it in F1 2021 has made us realise just how epic this track is to drive on. The undulations in the middle sector are out of this world, and it looks like it will be set to produce some exciting racing.

Codemasters have done a fantastic job with this track, and here, at last, we can finally say: this is our setup guide to the Portuguese GP in F1 2021.

To find out more about each F1 2021 setup component, check out the Complete F1 2021 Setups Guide.

Best F1 2021 Portugal Setup 

Below you will find the best wet and dry lap setups for the Portimão Circuit.

F1 2021 Portugal setup (dry)

• Front Wing Aero: 8
• Rear Wing Aero: 8
• DT On Throttle: 0.75
• DT Off Throttle: 0.80
• Front Camber: -3.00°
• Rear Camber: -1.40°
• Front Toe: 0.10°
• Rear Toe: 0.35°
• Front Suspension: 5
• Rear Suspension: 5
• Front Anti-Roll Bar: 5
• Rear Anti-Roll Bar: 5
• Front Ride Height: 6
• Rear Ride Height: 6
• Brake Pressure: 100.0
• Front Brake Bias: 0.55
• Front Right Tyre Pressure: 23.0 psi
• Front Left Tyre Pressure: 23.0 psi
• Rear Right Tyre Pressure: 21.5 psi
• Rear Left Tyre Pressure: 21.5 psi

F1 2021 Portugal setup (wet)

• Front Wing Aero: 8
• Rear Wing Aero: 9
• DT On Throttle: 0.80
• DT Off Throttle: 0.80
• Front Camber: -3.00°
• Rear Camber: -1.50°
• Front Toe: 0.09°
• Rear Toe: 0.41°
• Front Suspension: 5
• Rear Suspension: 5
• Front Anti-Roll Bar: 5
• Rear Anti-Roll Bar: 5
• Front Ride Height: 6
• Rear Ride Height: 6
• Brake Pressure: 100.0
• Front Brake Bias: 0.57
• Front Right Tyre Pressure: 22.6 psi
• Front Left Tyre Pressure: 22.6 psi
• Rear Right Tyre Pressure: 21.5 psi
• Rear Left Tyre Pressure: 21.5 psi

Aerodynamics

We have taken inspiration for this setup from our French Grand Prix setup, adding a touch more downforce and ride height to make this a medium-high downforce setup – ideally suited to the Portimão track.

We’ve added downforce for both the wet and the dry to give an 8-8 setup in the dry and an 8-9 in the wet because, as we saw when light rain fell in 2020, it can get pretty slippery at Portimão.

These levels of downforce will give you superb grip in all of the corners at the circuit, and allow you to slingshot out of the final corner to pull off an overtake down the main straight.

Transmission

We haven’t done anything drastic with the differential settings other than open up the differential a little more off-throttle, and have a relatively neutral setup on-throttle. For the wet, we’ve opened the on-throttle setting a little more to allow for a little less traction less in the more slippy conditions.

The middle sector demands a car that can put its grip to use early on to get out of a couple of the slower corners. Plus, it helps to keep the tyre wear down at this venue.

Suspension Geometry

You don’t want to overdo it on the camber settings at Portimão, but the track is nowhere near as much of a tyre killer as Silverstone or Spain. Thus, you can have a bit more negative camber to get the car to turn in for those twisty corners in Sector 2.

You shouldn’t see a negative effect on your tyre wear either, and it will give you great grip in that final, sweeping right-hander that takes you back down the pit straight.  

Front stability is also key to get the car nicely rotated through the corners at the Portuguese GP, with this track being one where you need a compliant and responsive car.

You can certainly get away with a bit more rear and front toe, and the stability of the car should still be pretty good, and strong enough that you won’t have to worry. It’s worth knocking the toe settings back a little more in the wet, though, to counteract the reduced stability that you are inevitably going to have as the rain falls.

Suspension

Across the whole board here, we have gone for some pretty neutral settings when it comes to suspension, anti-roll bar adjustments, and the front and rear ride height. Portimão is a much more modern circuit than some on F1 2021, with fewer bumps, and the kerbs are rather flat, so you can attack most of them without worrying if the car will spin around.

You will want around a 6-6 ride height setting so that the car doesn’t bottom out through some of the faster corners on the track, such as the fearsome Turn 1, just after the drop from the pit exit. You could probably get away with the same ride height settings in the wet too, but don’t be afraid to raise the levels if you so desire.

Brakes

This 100-55 and 100-57 brake pressure and front brake bias setup is the best option for most tracks in F1 2021. It helps to stave off the main issue, lock-ups, while giving you plenty of control when competing in the Portuguese Grand Prix.

Tyres

We have got some relatively high tyre pressures for Portimão. The track itself isn’t too punishing on tyres, and this means that you can take a few more liberties with the setup. Adding tyre pressure can help with straight-line speed too, in both the wet and the dry; thus, it’s a good idea to go for it and increase those pressures. You can bring the pressures down a bit in the wet, though, just to preserve the life of those tyres a bit more.

So, that’s our guide to the Portimão Circuit setup in F1 2021. We have waited a while for this track to finally be available, and it is fantastic to not only see the track in-game, but to see the incredible job that Codemasters have been able to do. We can’t wait to take a closer look at Imola next month.

Have you got your own Portuguese Grand Prix setup? Share it with us in the comments below!