Choose GT3 for most event guests and F1 for a crowd of racing fans who want the fastest car available. A GT3 car is heavier and slower, and its rules allow ABS and traction control, so newcomers can push without spinning at every corner. A current Formula 1 car is lighter and far quicker, and its rules ban both aids, so it rewards smooth hands and feet and punishes mistakes. One practical setup: GT3 for the leaderboard, F1 as a showcase drive.
The F1 car in 2026
Under the 2026 rules, the FIA set the minimum weight at 768 kg, 30 kg less than in 2022, shortened the wheelbase to a maximum of 3,400 mm, and raised the electric share of power to 350 kW alongside an engine of about 400 kW (FIA). The cars use active aerodynamics, with a Corner Mode for downforce and a Straight Mode that cuts drag (Formula 1).
Just as important for a sim driver is what F1 cars don't have. The technical regulations forbid any system that stops the driven wheels spinning under power, and any braking system designed to stop the wheels locking (FIA 2026 F1 Technical Regulations, C9.1.2 and C11.4.1).
The GT3 car
GT3 cars must hold an FIA GT3 homologation, and in endurance racing their minimum weight and power are set by Balance of Performance tables so different makes can race each other. The FIA/ACO's 2026 LMGT3 regulations, for GT3-based cars at Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship, expressly allow ABS and permit traction control (FIA/ACO LMGT3 Technical Regulations 2026). That is why a GT3 car is more approachable: lock the brakes or stamp on the throttle, and the electronics help.
Why downforce changes the feel
Wings work like an upside-down airplane wing. NASA's lift equation shows lift depends on the square of velocity (NASA Glenn Research Center), so a car that relies heavily on downforce gains grip quickly as speed rises and loses it as speed falls. That gives an F1 car enormous grip in fast corners and a much more nervous feel in slow ones, a contrast first-timers notice right away.
Side by side
| F1 | GT3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver aids under the rules | No traction control, no ABS | ABS and traction control allowed |
| Feel | Very fast, very sensitive; huge grip at high speed | Heavier and more forgiving; easier to recover |
| Learning curve | Steep | Gentle |
| Good fit for | F1 fans, watch parties, showcase hot laps | Leaderboards, tournaments, mixed-experience groups |
Make it work at your event
- Leaderboard car: GT3, so times reflect driving rather than who avoided a spin.
- Showcase car: F1, offered as a bonus lap. Sim software can add assists if you want to make it friendlier: Assetto Corsa, for example, has gamer, racer and pro assist profiles (Assetto Corsa on Steam).
- Motion: on our full-motion rigs (SIGMA Integrale 2DOF/3DOF, electric actuators), both cars pitch under braking and roll in corners, which makes the F1 braking zones especially vivid.
Planning an F1-themed event? SimsForHire worked the largest F1 fan fest in Miami. See corporate events and pricing: $2,750 per full-motion rig per day, plus tax and insurance.
Call (754) 228-5654, email hello@simsforhire.com, or request a date. We reply within 24 hours and can book with as little as 24 hours' notice.