Automobilista 2 offers an unparalleled amount of Formula One content, and another season debuts in the sim: The AMS2 F1 1998 skin pack has been released. Good news are on the horizon for more recent packs, too.
The 1990s were an exciting decade in Formula One with plenty of rivalries that are still remembered fondly. The Ayrton Senna/Alain Prost feud comes to mind, and so do Michael Schumacher's duels with Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and Mika Häkkinen. Cars changed quite a bit, too, with the tech race peaking in 1993 followed by a series of rule changes that significantly altered their looks and driving behavior.
One such change came in 1998, and it was arguably the most drastic one. Following the tragic events of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, a series of rule changes had been introduced, some of them during the 1994 season, others in the years that followed. Engine size went down from 3.5 to 3 liters, wing dimensions were limited, and higher cockpit side headrests were introduced.
The brand-new F1 1998 Skin Pack released by OverTake community member @LadyCroussette covers this very season, closing a gap in the second half of the 1990s regarding F1 seasons. This means that in addition to the 1990 to 1993 seasons being covered via the F-Classic and F-HiTech classes and accompanying skin packs, the years of 1997 to 2001 are now also available - albeit only spread across two car classes.
You could also argue that 1995 is there, but that only has that year's Ferrari (called F-V12) - the only V12-powered car on the grid in 1995, so it is not really all that representative, as fun as it may be to drive. There is a skin pack available for it too, though.
Anyway, 1997 uses the Formula V10 Gen 1 class as a base, while the 1999, 2000 and 2001 packs are for the F-V10 Gen 2 car - which is technically based on the 2001 Williams FW23. However, since this was a period of relative rule stability, simply switching off Traction Control, Launch Control and automatic shifting (which the car has) means you can get an approximation of the earlier V10 years.
This allows you to recreate some of the battles of Häkkinen and Schumacher, as 1998 was the first season they went head to head for the title. Also, you can try your luck at THAT Belgian Grand Prix that saw Eddie Jordan dance down pit lane "like a complete leprechaun", as the late team boss put it himself in 2015.
Image: @LadyCroussette
Unfortunately, while AMS2 offers many great historic versions for a number of tracks, some of the late 1990s versions of circuits are absent. The pre-Mercedes Arena Nürburgring GP layout, for instance, would be a great addition to have in the future, as F1 and the World Sportscar Championship raced on this original configuration starting in 1984. The current first sector was installed in 2002.
That is not all, however: The creator has also mentioned that their 2022 and 2023 packs will make a return to AMS2. Initially, the F-Ultimate Gen 2 car looked different as it was based on the concept car for the new-to-2022 regulations in Formula One, but Reiza Studios replaced this with a more accurate model in early 2024.
Since the packs had originally been created for the previous model, they were not compatible with the new one anymore - or at least not as intended. This is supposed to change, though, with KRRTDustin looking to adapt these packs to the current model. And once that is done, there will be one big 2022-2025 skin pack that allows players to recreate those seasons with the help of the XML selector.
What do you make of the 1998 F1 Skin Pack and the 1.0 release of the 2025 pack for Automobilista 2? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our AMS2 forum!
The 1990s were an exciting decade in Formula One with plenty of rivalries that are still remembered fondly. The Ayrton Senna/Alain Prost feud comes to mind, and so do Michael Schumacher's duels with Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and Mika Häkkinen. Cars changed quite a bit, too, with the tech race peaking in 1993 followed by a series of rule changes that significantly altered their looks and driving behavior.
One such change came in 1998, and it was arguably the most drastic one. Following the tragic events of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, a series of rule changes had been introduced, some of them during the 1994 season, others in the years that followed. Engine size went down from 3.5 to 3 liters, wing dimensions were limited, and higher cockpit side headrests were introduced.
Narrower Cars, Grooved Tires
Then, in 1998, the cars' width was reduced from 2 to 1.8 meters, and grooved tires replaced the usual slicks. A bit of a radical change that made the cars more squirrely - something that two-time CART champion Alex Zanardi could not really adapt to, for instance - and different to drive compared to their predecessors used until the end of 1997. It was also the final season for Goodyear as a tire manufacturer in F1.The brand-new F1 1998 Skin Pack released by OverTake community member @LadyCroussette covers this very season, closing a gap in the second half of the 1990s regarding F1 seasons. This means that in addition to the 1990 to 1993 seasons being covered via the F-Classic and F-HiTech classes and accompanying skin packs, the years of 1997 to 2001 are now also available - albeit only spread across two car classes.
You could also argue that 1995 is there, but that only has that year's Ferrari (called F-V12) - the only V12-powered car on the grid in 1995, so it is not really all that representative, as fun as it may be to drive. There is a skin pack available for it too, though.
Anyway, 1997 uses the Formula V10 Gen 1 class as a base, while the 1999, 2000 and 2001 packs are for the F-V10 Gen 2 car - which is technically based on the 2001 Williams FW23. However, since this was a period of relative rule stability, simply switching off Traction Control, Launch Control and automatic shifting (which the car has) means you can get an approximation of the earlier V10 years.
This allows you to recreate some of the battles of Häkkinen and Schumacher, as 1998 was the first season they went head to head for the title. Also, you can try your luck at THAT Belgian Grand Prix that saw Eddie Jordan dance down pit lane "like a complete leprechaun", as the late team boss put it himself in 2015.
Image: @LadyCroussette
Accurate 1998 F1 Tracks In AMS2
- Interlagos 1993
- Buenos Aires No. 6-S
- Imola 2001
- Silverstone 2001
- Red Bull Ring
- Hockenheim 2001
- Spa-Francorchamps 1993
Tracks With Only Minor Differences
- Catalunya (no chicane)
- Montreal
- Monza 1991
- Suzuka (Kansai Classic)
Unfortunately, while AMS2 offers many great historic versions for a number of tracks, some of the late 1990s versions of circuits are absent. The pre-Mercedes Arena Nürburgring GP layout, for instance, would be a great addition to have in the future, as F1 and the World Sportscar Championship raced on this original configuration starting in 1984. The current first sector was installed in 2002.
2022 & 2023 Packs To Return
For the more modern-minded F1 fan, there are good news as well: @KRRTDustin has updated their 2025 F1 Skinpack to version 1.0, including all 2025 drivers, helmets, and suits. The driver swap of Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson is also included via the XML selector.That is not all, however: The creator has also mentioned that their 2022 and 2023 packs will make a return to AMS2. Initially, the F-Ultimate Gen 2 car looked different as it was based on the concept car for the new-to-2022 regulations in Formula One, but Reiza Studios replaced this with a more accurate model in early 2024.
Since the packs had originally been created for the previous model, they were not compatible with the new one anymore - or at least not as intended. This is supposed to change, though, with KRRTDustin looking to adapt these packs to the current model. And once that is done, there will be one big 2022-2025 skin pack that allows players to recreate those seasons with the help of the XML selector.
What do you make of the 1998 F1 Skin Pack and the 1.0 release of the 2025 pack for Automobilista 2? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our AMS2 forum!
