driver Esteban Ocon explains how the video game reproduces the sensations of Formula 1

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“I think I’ve done 45,000 kilometers on Gran Turismo Sports“. When he is not on the greatest circuits of the globe at the wheel of his Alpine in the context of the F1 world championship, Esteban Ocon devotes himself to his passion for the automobile on the multiple modes of the essential series of racing games. An attachment to the franchise, born on December 3, 1997, which dates back to childhood for the 25-year-old French pilot and which was reinforced during the first confinement.

At a time when several rounds of the 2020 season of the queen competition of motorsport have been canceled, the current teammate of Fernando Alonso has indeed taken up e-sport, participating in particular in several online events on Gran Turismo. “I’ve been playing a lot since I was very young. The first time was on the PlayStation. And I’ve been playing it throughout my career. Obviously I’ve learned to drive better and better through practice but also in Gran Turismo”confides the one who won a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2021 in Budapest and who this year becomes the official ambassador of the last title in the series, Gran Turismo 7which releases Friday, March 4 exclusively on PlayStation 4 and 5.

“It’s an honor because it really is my favorite game and simulator”explains the driver in full preparation for the 2022 F1 season.

In recent months, Esteban Ocon has participated in the development of the eighth installment in the series, providing his comments and feedback on the sensations felt through the gameplay. Kazunori Yamauchi, president of Polyphony Digital, the studio at the head of the franchise with 80 million games sold, talks about the role played by the French pilot in the development of the game: “We asked him to review the code, mainly regarding the driving physics. Having the feedback from the main drivers is extremely important for us”, he explains. In the past, the game’s producers have notably worked with a certain Lewis Hamilton, six-time F1 world champion.

On March 4, fans of Gran Turismo will thus discover the 400 vehicles offered in the game and will be able to assert their driving reflexes and instincts on the 90 circuits available, several of which are on the Formula 1 world championship calendar.

“I must say that the sensations in the game compared to a real race are very close. I am thinking above all of the precision of the curves. The real tracks are laser scanned. The circuits are very fun, like Spa, Barcelona or the Red Bull Ring. These tracks are so close to reality that I practice between races.” says Esteban Ocon.

Behavior of the vehicle in bends, reaction of the steering wheel, evolution of the tyres… It is on these essential details in the development of a car simulation game that the pilot brought his expertise.

For Esteban Ocon, a lot of progress has been made at the steering wheel over the past two years. (Adrien Beaucheix / four two two)

“Driving simulators is always more difficult because you have less feedback than in the real car. All the sensations then come from the vision and the steering wheel, he describes, emphasizing the progress made in recent years. The steering wheel gives you a lot more information about how the car is going to move. You can feel the edge of the tires when you steer through the corners. There are vibrations in the steering. You can transcribe most of the things you feel during a real race”, says Esteban Ocon.

I’m a big fan of the way the car behaves in-game. It’s more responsive when it’s raining. It is the most complete game. And it’s very good!

Esteban Ocon, Formula 1 driver

To offer players the closest possible sensations of an F1 driver, the developers of Gran Turismo therefore rely on an essential accessory, the steering wheel. “We do a lot of testing, that’s what helps us get the feelings and vibes described. To do that, there’s precisely measured data”says Kazunori Yamauchi.

A steering wheel compatible with the PlayStation 5 still represents a certain investment. For a quality tool, you have to pay at least 150 euros, and prices can go up to 700 euros. But even those who are equipped with a simple joystick will be able to experience the sensations of an F1 driver through Gran Turismo 7 assures Esteban Ocon: “I tried the controller. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a steering wheel. And I must say that I was very surprised at how well you can modulate the brakes, feel the ABS at through the gauge. This will help players save time compared to what was done before”.

To go more in-depth in the faithful transcription of the performance of a racing car, the Japanese studio also relied on a large range of digital data, measured in particular on the tires used in competition. “The hardest part is recreating them correctly. We have been official partners of the tire manufacturers. They have provided us with a lot of technical information for the development of the game. It has helped us to get as close as possible to reality “assures Kazunori Yamauchi who also evokes a “physics engine as precise as possible”.

Sensations developed through the steering wheel, faithful reproduction of tracks, analysis of tire data… Gran Turismo therefore seems to have pulled out all the stops to offer the most complete car simulation possible for its 25th year. All with the support of an emeritus consultant, Esteban Ocon.

The French driver also wishes to extend the partnership with the franchise: “We hope to be able to continue”, he concludes. But in the meantime, Fernando Alonso’s teammate must focus on the upcoming Formula 1 season with the first meeting of the world championship on March 20 in Bahrain.


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