Driving a Ferrari Formula 1 car on a simulator feels fast, precise and unforgiving. The braking points arrive sooner than you expect, and the car reacts to small inputs. A good full-motion simulator reproduces the timing, the sounds and the feedback through the wheel and seat. It cannot reproduce the sustained g-forces of a real F1 car. Here is what is real, and what is simulated.
The numbers behind the experience
- Power: F1's hybrid power units produce more than 1,000 horsepower, according to Red Bull.
- Braking: in 2025, Brembo recorded a peak of 5.1 g on a qualifying lap in Canada, and a stop from 350 km/h (about 217 mph) to 102 km/h at Las Vegas. At Monza, drivers pressed the brake pedal with 162 kg of force.
- 2026 cars brake more gently. Under the new rules, Brembo's 2026 Belgian GP data shows peak deceleration into Spa's Bus Stop chicane falling from 4.7 g to 3.3 g, and pedal load from 160 kg to 96 kg.
How Ferrari itself uses simulators
Simulators are core tools for F1 teams. According to Ferrari Magazine, the Scuderia has used a simulator for much of the past two decades, and its importance grew after in-season testing was banned in 2009. Ferrari's drivers say its newest simulator is about 98% accurate. Ferrari reports latency under four milliseconds and bandwidth above 55 Hz across six degrees of freedom. The previous team simulator, used by Ferrari's drivers until 2022, is now offered to Ferrari's customer racing clients, with a coach on the radio and engineers watching the telemetry.
For the public, Ferrari's museum in Maranello offers an F1 simulator: a 7-minute race for €30, with a staff briefing on the paddle shifters first. Ferrari calibrates it for "gentleman" drivers, with a professional setup available on request.
Ferrari F1 cars in racing software
Ferrari F1 cars appear in licensed simulation software. Assetto Corsa's Ferrari 70th Anniversary Pack, released in 2017, includes the 2004 F2004 and the 2017 SF70H. The official F1 game, made by EA SPORTS, is licensed by Formula 1 and includes the current teams. Which cars a given rig runs depends on its software, so if a specific car matters to you, ask when you book.
What a motion platform can and cannot do
A motion simulator has limited travel. SIGMA Integrale's DK2 actuators, for example, move 2 inches (50 mm). A platform cannot push you forward at 5 g for two seconds. Instead it uses motion cueing: a sharp pitch forward at the instant you hit the brakes, then a gentle tilt that lets gravity suggest a longer pull, then an imperceptible return to center. The research literature calls these tilt coordination and washout. Done well, your inner ear and eyes accept the illusion, and the car feels alive.
What first-timers notice
- Braking takes practice. F1 cars stop so hard that braking points take a few laps to judge.
- Smooth beats aggressive. Sudden steering and throttle inputs unsettle the car.
- The paddles matter. Knowing which gear you need at each corner is half of a clean lap. That is why Ferrari briefs its museum drivers on it.
Drive an F1-style car at your event
Simulator experiences work at corporate events, private parties, brand activations and trade shows. SimsForHire delivers to hotels, event venues, offices and private homes, and we set up, staff and tear down. Our fleet is 10 full-motion rigs built on SIGMA Integrale 2DOF/3DOF motion platforms, which use electric actuators. Full-motion rigs are $2,750 per rig per day, with a $2,000 event minimum — all plus tax and insurance. Delivery is free within 50 miles of Miami; farther out, we quote the delivery fee on request. For race-week ideas, see our F1 racing simulator rental page. Call (754) 228-5654, email hello@simsforhire.com, or start a booking. We reply within 24 hours.