All of which, sadly and quite bafflingly, is only true when playing on a wheel. One of F1 2014's additions is tweaked pad control tailored for more accessibility, but while that's great for newcomers to the series, the sport or the genre, for everyone else the result is a compromise that cripples the handling model.
Played on a pad, F1 2014 is a different game entirely, and wholly for the worse. There's a leaden feeling that's been introduced for this year's model, the cars stuck fast to the tarmac and wallowing around without the water-boatman-like agility that's been the foundation of previous Codemasters F1 games. Even playing with traction, braking and steering assists all switched off, it always feels like the suffocating cushion of driving aids is present.