When it comes to retro content in sim racing, it is hard to ignore Automobilista 2 – the selection is overwhelming, especially for F1 fans. The sim currently offers no less than 15 Formula 1 seasons, spanning six decades – 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 as of V1.4.5.2 for you – including the accurate tracks that the cars raced at.
1966/1967 – Formula Vintage Gen1
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 bears some resemblance to the legendary Ford-Cosworth DFV that was introduced that year.
Cars:
- Formula Vintage Gen1 Model 1 (V8)
- Formula Vintage Gen1 Model 2 (V12)
Tracks:
- Kyalami 1976 – South African Grand Prix
- Spa-Francorchamps 1970 1000km – Belgian Grand Prix
- Silverstone 1975 – British Grand Prix
- Monza Classic – Italian Grand Prix
1969/1970 – Formula Vintage Gen2
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 Gen2 Model 1 (V8)
- Formula Vintage Gen2 Model 2 (V12)
- Lotus 49C
Tracks:
- Kyalami 1976 – South African Grand Prix
- Spa-Francorchamps 1970 – Belgian Grand Prix
- Hockenheim 1977 – German Grand Prix
- Spielberg 1974 – Austrian Grand Prix
- Monza Classic – Italian Grand Prix
1974 – Formula Retro Gen1
At five cars, this class is represented even better than the the Vintage Gen2. 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 Gen1 Model 1 (V12)
- Formula Retro Gen1 Model 2 (V8)
- Lotus 72E
- McLaren M23
Tracks:
- Buenos Aires No. 15 – Argentine Grand Prix
- Interlagos 1976 – Brazilian Grand Prix
- Kyalami 1976 – South African Grand Prix
- Spielberg 1974 – Austrian Grand Prix
- Watkins Glen GP – United States Grand Prix
1978 – Formula Retro Gen2
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.
Cars:
- Brabham BT46B
- Brabham BT49
- Formula Retro Gen2 (V8)
- Lotus 79
Tracks:
- Buenos Aires No. 15 – Argentine Grand Prix
- Jacarepagua 1988 – Brazilian Grand Prix
- Kyalami 1976 – South African Grand Prix
- Hockenheim 1977 – German Grand Prix
- Spielberg 1977 – Austrian Grand Prix
- Monza 1993 – Italian Grand Prix
1983 – Formula Retro Gen3
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 – and his Brabham BT52 is now available in this class, including its unpredictable boost. 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 Gen3 DFY (naturally aspirated V8)
- Formula Retro Gen3 Turbo (V6 Turbo)
- McLaren MP4/1C
Tracks:
- Jacarepagua 1988 – Brazilian Grand Prix
- Imola 1988 – San Marino Grand Prix
- Spa-Francorchamps 1993 – Belgian Grand Prix
- Silverstone 1975 (with chicane) – British Grand Prix
- Hockenheim 1988 – German Grand Prix
- Spielberg 1977 – Austrian Grand Prix
- Monza 1991 – Italian Grand Prix
- Kyalami 1976 – South African Grand Prix
1986 – Formula Classic Gen1
The height of turbo-powered engines – never has F1 seen more horsepower! Two cars without obvious real-life counterparts 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 is based on the Arrows A9. The class now also features probably the most recognizable car of the era, the Lotus 98T. Careful with that throttle pedal!
Cars:
- Formula Classic Gen1 Model 1 (1300 HP)
- Formula Classic Gen2 Model 2 (1380 HP)
- Lotus 98T
Tracks:
- Jacarepagua 1988 – Brazilian Grand Prix
- Jerez 1988 – Spanish Grand Prix
- Imola 1988 – San Marino Grand Prix
- Spa-Francorchamps 1993 – Belgian Grand Prix
- Hockenheim 1988 – German Grand Prix
- Spielberg 1977 – Austrian Grand Prix
- Monza 1991 – Italian Grand Prix
- Adelaide 1988 – Australian Grand Prix
1988 – Formula Classic Gen2
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 in their McLaren MP4/4 that year.
Cars:
- Formula Classic Gen2 Model 1 (V8)
- Formula Classic Gen2 Model 2 (V8)
- Formula Classic Gen2 Model 3 (V6 Turbo)
- McLaren MP4/4
Tracks:
- Jacarepagua 1988 – Brazilian Grand Prix
- Imola 1988 – San Marino Grand Prix
- Montreal 1988 – Canadian Grand Prix
- Hockenheim 1988 – German Grand Prix
- Spa-Francorchamps 1993 – Belgian Grand Prix
- Monza 1991 – Italian Grand Prix
- Cascais 1988 – Portuguese Grand Prix
- Jerez 1988 – Spanish Grand Prix
- Adelaide 1988 – Australian Grand Prix
1990 – Formula Classic Gen3
With the release of the McLaren MP4/5B as part of the Brazilian Racing Legends DLC, Reiza has added an all-new Formula class to portray the 1990 season. For this, cars from other classes were used as a base to create a fitting grid – including lower-powered, aging cars fielded by teams like Coloni at the time.
Cars:
- Formula Classic Gen3 Model 1 (V12, H-shifter)
- Formula Classic Gen3 Model 2 (V8, sequential)
- Formula Classic Gen3 Model 3 (V10, H-shifter)
- Formula Classic Gen3 Model 4 (V8, H-shifter)
- McLaren MP4/5B
Tracks:
- Interlagos – Brazilian Grand Prix
- Imola 1988 – San Marino Grand Prix
- Montreal 1988 – Canadian Grand Prix
- Hockenheim 1988 – German Grand Prix
- Spa-Francorchamps 1993 – Belgian Grand Prix
- Monza 1991 – Italian Grand Prix
- Cascais 1988 – Portuguese Grand Prix
- Jerez 1988 – Spanish Grand Prix
- Adelaide 1988 – Australian Grand Prix
1991 – Formula Classic Gen4
Ayrton Senna wins the world championship for the third time, Michael Schumacher makes his debut – 1991 was an exciting season without a doubt. The cars of the F-Classic Gen3 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. Senna’s final championship-winning car was also the last to use a transmission like this to take the title.
Cars:
- Formula Classic Gen4 Model 1 (V12)
- Formula Classic Gen4 Model 2 (V10)
- Formula Classic Gen4 Model 3 (V8)
- McLaren MP4/6
Tracks:
- Interlagos – Brazilian Grand Prix
- Imola 1988 – San Marino Grand Prix
- Silverstone 1991 – British Grand Prix
- Hockenheim 1988 – German Grand Prix
- Spa-Francorchamps 1993 – Belgian Grand Prix
- Monza 1991 – Italian Grand Prix
- Cascais 1988 – Portuguese Grand Prix
- Adelaide 1988 – Australian Grand Prix
1995 – Formula V12
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
Tracks:
- Interlagos – Brazilian Grand Prix
- Buenos Aires No. 6 – Argentine Grand Prix
- Imola 2001 – San Marino Grand Prix
- Hockenheim 2001 – German Grand Prix
- Spa-Francorchamps 1993 – Belgian Grand Prix
- Adelaide 1988 – Australian Grand Prix
1997 – Formula V10 Gen1
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
Tracks:
- Interlagos – Brazilian Grand Prix
- Buenos Aires No. 6 – Argentine Grand Prix
- Imola 2001 – San Marino Grand Prix
- Montreal – Canadian Grand Prix
- Silverstone 2001 – British Grand Prix
- Hockenheim 2001 – German Grand Prix
- Spa-Francorchamps 1993 – Belgian Grand Prix
- Red Bull Ring – Austrian Grand Prix
- Jerez – European Grand Prix
2001 – Formula V10 Gen2
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
Tracks:
- Interlagos – Brazilian Grand Prix
- Imola 2001 – San Marino Grand Prix
- Red Bull Ring – Austrian Grand Prix
- Montreal – Canadian Grand Prix
- Silverstone 2001 – British Grand Prix
- Hockenheim 2001 – German Grand Prix
- Spa-Francorchamps 1993 – Belgian Grand Prix
- Monza – Italian Grand Prix
2011 – Formula Reiza
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.
Car:
- Formula Reiza
Tracks:
- Azure Circuit – Monaco Grand Prix
- Montreal – Canadian Grand Prix
- Silverstone – British Grand Prix
- Nürburgring GP – German Grand Prix
- Spa-Francorchamps – Belgian Grand Prix
- Monza – Italian Grand Prix
- Kansai – Japanese Grand Prix
- Interlagos – Brazilian Grand Prix
2019 – Formula Ultimate Gen1
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 2019
Tracks:
- Azure Circuit – Monaco Grand Prix
- Montreal – Canadian Grand Prix
- Red Bull Ring – Austrian Grand Prix
- Silverstone – British Grand Prix
- Hockenheim – German Grand Prix
- Spa-Francorchamps – Belgian Grand Prix
- Monza – Italian Grand Prix
- Kansai – Japanese Grand Prix
- Interlagos – Brazilian Grand Prix
2022 – Formula Ultimate Gen2
Reiza’s most recent F1 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.
Car:
- Formula Ultimate Gen2
Tracks:
- Imola – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
- Azure Circuit – Monaco Grand Prix
- Montreal – Canadian Grand Prix
- Silverstone – British Grand Prix
- Red Bull Ring – Austrian Grand Prix
- Spa-Francorchamps – Belgian Grand Prix
- Monza – Italian Grand Prix
- Kansai – Japanese Grand Prix
- Interlagos – Brazilian Grand Prix
No less than 42 cars from six decades – the amount of choice is a sight to behold and cannot be found anywhere else, except without mods. The best part: Most of the F1 cars in Automobilista 2 are free and already in the sim.
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 in the comments!