Understeer Explained: What is Understeer & How to Control It (Actionable)

Welcome to tutorial seven in our Driver’s University series and today we’re going to take a detailed look at understeer.

Understeer is handling characteristic that is mostly disliked by racing drivers, but it’s important to understand so we can reduce the chances of it slowing us down on the circuit.

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In this tutorial I will cover:

- What is understeer?
- What does understeer feel like?
- The causes of understeer
- How to correct understeer and minimise time loss
- Changing setup

This video is part of a Driver61's "Driver's University" series. Got an aspect of racing you'd like me to explain? Ask in the comments!

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★ Got racing technique questions? Ask in the comments!

#DriversUni #Tutorial7 #UndersteerExplained

[jameswoodsupersport]

no bullshit or silly music, i watched on 1.25 because i have no attention but this vid is great. so great i paused halfway through to make a comment

[StanFinite]

Mister Mansell, you are doing more than a great job. Thank you.P.S.: I only drive an indoor karts for a few months but I managed to get close to the circuit record. This is really helping me to go as deep as possible in theory knowledge. I hope this will transfer to my conscious and sub conscious level and really get better. You are giving so much joy in our passion.

[johnmifsud]

As newbie getting into sim racing. These vids are great and still very relevant

[It-b-Blair]

I’ve had rear or awd drive cars my 20 years of driving experience, just got a front wheel drive and I’m under steering... thanks for the detailed tips and assistance!

[ziggyfreud]

Thanks for this tute Mr Mansell/Scott. Now I see with my exit understeer I just gotta be more patient and more consistent to within a few tenths per lap before doing anything to the car set up. Basically just confirming what I already suspected. At the moment the car is good and I am the problem. Once again thanks for the advice and time you put in to these tutorials. Cheers ZF :)

[michaelfjmusic]

Thank you SO MUCH for the explanation! Every other video on the topic is either oversimplified, or explained poorly.

[ruividal]

Big up to these tutorials! Well done, keep them coming

[DMAX_DIY]

Thanks Scott! Yeah I watched the whole thing. Because, Yep I get understeer on some of my fake sim cars. I drive my home built VR 3DOF Sim Rig because I'm old but used to race real cars back in the day.. Thanks for posting! DMAX

[nickc]

Really good quality content on this channel, Scott. Subscribed.

[slowrider]

@driver61 where should we look for the article on understeer and car setup?

[Chrissy-H]

At my last track day there was a guy in a RS Clio who was the absolute king of understeer. This guy was just throwing steering lock at it on every corner, and then adding power. The car just wasn't turning or going forward, and I was pootling around behind him using about 50% of the grip available. Made me angry just watching him drive, I can't imagine how frustrated he was!

[orangejjay]

Had no idea you had these on here. Heck yeah.

[Creeperboy]

So if you transfer too little weight forward, the front won’t have enough traction to do its job, but if you put too much, the tires will lock and you will also lose traction?

[rishuraj]

Wow, thanks for making us understand about it

[its-kapucha]

Really good material. At the end of this video he mentions about table in some article but where can I find this article?

[GuyMahoney]

Extra tip: on soft suspension, jab on the brakes quickly and sharply then when you lift off and the nose is still diving, turn in with no brakes for maximum utilisation of grip to turning. If rotation is still too low, jab at the accelerator while the nose is down to spin up the rear tyres while the grip is reduced (countersteer as necessary).

[rachitsinghal]

Great Insight and information. However, I was keen to understand more as to how to actually overcome understeer in 4 stroke rental karts where moving the seat position is not possible.

[nocopyrightmix]

Is it correct to use more engine brake in the second part of the corner while we are still turning in?

[a.j.e.]

I'm am proud to say that as an American I have never refered to understeer as "push"

[TT-mqyy]

Would you suggest an audi a5 quattro 2013 as a track car?