In the past, Formula 1 games have tended to lean on one side of the racing spectrum, but tried to cater for everyone wherever possible. Codemasters' F1 games have shifted more towards simulation, seeking to deliver an experience that is as authentic as possible, but with the ability to enable or disable race car assistance. F1 under the EA brand was created by Visual Science, creators of the rFactor hardcore racing simulator, but offered simulation and arcade-style options for fanatics and more casual gamers to enjoy.
This year for F1 2020, Codemasters introduced a new casual control system to the game. In this control setup, the game makes the controls a lot simpler by taking all the mechanics that are part of the usual control scheme, which you would normally tinker with parts of the car that affect the driving experience, such as traction control and anti-lock braking and would generally have a dramatic impact on how you accelerate and brake, and condense them into a few easy options to understand.
For the Casual control setup, this simplifies things. There are a few options available, including steering assist, which will make steering smoother and more consistent, and brake assist, when the game may suggest you brake or offer simple assist. There's also the ability to simply reset to the track if you get off it, a dynamic racing line to make sure you're taking the best possible route at all times, and DRS Assist which will automatically use DRS when available. You are also locked into the automatic transmission.
The standard control setup is more of what you would expect from an F1 game, with the options to switch between all of the major systems that help the car run efficiently. You can also switch between other racing options, including using manual or automatic gear changes, and you can use DRS and ERS, the two on-board systems that will provide strong performance to help catch or overtake opponents. , automatically or manually among other options.
With the two race-style control setups, it's up to you to decide which one to use. The standard makes the game harder, closer to what an F1 driver would actually experience, but the relaxed setup will make the game much more accessible and less punishing for mistakes. Which one works best is up to you, but be aware that you won't be able to use the Casual settings in online multiplayer.
