Automobilista 2 uses the Formula HiTech family to bracket the 1991–1995 F1 era. Gen 1 covers 1991–1993, the period of active suspension and comprehensive electronic aids. Gen 2 covers 1994–1995 specifically: the period after the FIA's pre-season ban on active suspension, traction control, anti-lock brakes, and launch control, through the additional 1995 engine displacement reduction from 3.5 to 3.0 litres. Model 3 is the Gen 2 class leader, representing a championship-contending team from this period.
The Formula HiTech DLC was released as part of Automobilista 2 Update 1.5.3 in November 2023. The DLC includes four cars across two generations: Gen 1 features the McLaren MP4/7 and three generic models; Gen 2 features the McLaren MP4/8 and three generic models. Model 3 sits at the top of the Gen 2 performance hierarchy. Reiza Studios has not published the exact real-world chassis the Gen 2 Model 3 corresponds to.
The 1994 season redefined driver agency in F1. Without traction control, throttle application exiting slow corners became treacherous; without active suspension, cars porpoised and bounced through high-speed sections previously neutralised by computer-managed ride height. Michael Schumacher won the championship in the Benetton B194 (Ford Zetec-R V8), while Damon Hill pressed him to the final lap in the Williams FW16 (Renault V10). Post-Imola aerodynamic rule changes mid-season reduced overall downforce, further destabilising car balance across the field.
In 1995, the 3.0-litre regulation tightened competition. Schumacher's Benetton B195 used Renault's RS7 V10, winning eleven races alongside teammate Johnny Herbert. Williams' FW17 was widely considered the faster car but less consistently exploited. Ferrari's 412T2 remained the sole V12 representative — powerful but heavier and thirstier, the final expression of Ferrari's twelve-cylinder F1 commitment before switching to V10 in 1996.
The championship-leading cars of the 1994–1995 period are the most plausible references for the Gen 2 M3: the Benetton B194/B195 and Williams FW16/FW17 share the Renault V10 package that dominated the second season, while the Ferrari 412T1/412T2's strong 1994 results make it a credible alternative reference.
The Formula HiTech Gen 2 Model 3 is the reference car for the class — the benchmark against which the M1 and M2 variants are measured. It delivers the full challenge of 1994–1995-spec F1 without any electronic safety net: high mechanical grip, high aerodynamic sensitivity, and a steep penalty for driver error. The removal of traction control in the real-world 1994 season is faithfully reflected: the model rewards precision on throttle application out of slow corners.
Update 1.5.3 brought significant AI and tyre physics improvements alongside the Formula HiTech DLC, including recalibrated AI skill ranges for the F-V10 and F-V12 classes that bracket the HiTech content in terms of era. A setup reset accompanied the update due to physics changes. Time Trial leaderboards were available from launch.
The class's position within the AMS2 Legacy DLC places it between the early-1990s active-suspension machines of Gen 1 and the 2000s-era Formula Classic Gen 4 content.
Formula HiTech Gen 2 Model 2 (AMS2 Legacy DLC) — mid-field tier sister variant
Formula HiTech Gen 2 Model 1 (AMS2 Legacy DLC) — backmarker tier sister variant
Formula HiTech Gen 1 Model 4 (AMS2 Legacy DLC) — earlier active-suspension era, top spec
Automobilista 2 — the simulation platform
Reiza Studios — developer