Victory in Formula 1 requires tactical timing, a keen understanding of your opponents and the track, and equipping your cars with the right components for each race. F1 Clash puts you in charge of a team of the best drivers on the planet, including seasoned icons like Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso and more recent stars such as Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.

When it comes to F1 simulation, this game is in pole position.

Playing F1 Clash is like reaching through your TV screen to take control of a live Grand Prix thanks to the ability to follow the race from a bird’s-eye view (enable the Cinematic camera mode to feel even more in the action).

See which starting positions your cars secure during automated qualifying, then line up on the grid and prepare to go head-to-head against another player in real time. The split-second decisions, immersive 3D visuals and sound, and realistic simulation of the real-life tracks and drivers make this a true F1 experience.

Before each race, you’ll want to outfit your team’s cars with the engine, suspension, gearbox, wing and brake upgrades they need to keep their speed high, cornering tight and pit-stop time snappy. Your drivers can improve their skills too, making them more effective at overtaking rivals, defending against the cars on their tail and setting off from the start line as fast as possible.

Once you’re on the track, manage your drivers’ races in real time, swapping between fast, neutral and power-saving engine modes by tapping on the arrows above each driver. Time your bursts of speed to leave your opponents in the dust without exhausting your drivers before that all-important final lap. You’ll also need to choose the best tyres for each track and changing weather – they all have differing grip and durability. Be sure to keep an eye on their condition and call your drivers in for a pit stop once their tyres start to wear low, or the only thing you’ll be doing quickly is losing position.

Hutch Games was founded in 2011 by five former PlayStation staff. The London-based team released their debut title, Smash Cops, at the start of 2012. Before the end of the year, it took things up another gear with an even more high-octane follow-up, Smash Cops Heat.

Seven years, additional studios in Scotland and Canada, more than half-a-dozen games, and more than 100 staff later, Hutch launched F1 Clash, originally known as F1 Manager.