► Semi-permanent sim racing cockpit tested
► Designed to withstand direct drive force feedback
► Assembly process and adjustability evaluated
We’re in the midst of a huge motorsport summer, with engines still warm from Le Mans, the N24h and the British GP. But how can you continue the racing? Enter the Playseat Formula Instinct, one of the most comprehensive racing seats you can buy right now. Compatible with pretty much all wheels but engineered for the strongest, most torquey units, it sits bang in the middle of Playseat’s ever growing range.
In fact, it’s often cross-shopped with the similarly priced and Playseat Trophy, which you can read our full review of here. Like that model, the Formula Instinct isn’t cheap at around £500, but is it a worthy investment to your sim rig? To find out CAR’s Digital Editor, Curtis Moldrich is giving it a test. We’ll also compare it to the Trophy throughout, as you may need help deciding between the two.
What does it come with?
The Formula Instinct comes in a relatively chunky box, because it’s somewhat less collapsable than the Trophy and seems to use more frame. See that solid seat? That’s in two bits, for a start.
Haul the box into your chosen room, and you’ll find a plethora of bits and pieces, from a tubular metal frame and cushions, to nuts, bolts and tools required to piece it together. There’s even a pair of gloves; in case you’re trying to assemble this racing seat as if it were a Cosworth V12 or Ilmor V10. Useful? Not really. A nice bit of theatre? Very much so.
Is the Playseat Formula Instinct easy to assemble?
The instructions are clear overall, although the exact orientations of parts will sometimes take a little detective work. I’d advise screwing everything loose to begin with, as further diagrams and steps often exposed the odd mistake.
The kit can be divided into a few parts: first there’s the shell of the seat along with the cushion for it. Then the tubular frame that holds it all together, and finally the pedal and and steering wheel modules. The former is the most unwieldy, and one of the main differentiators between the Formula Instinct seat we’re testing today and the Trophy.
The whole process took a relaxed two hours, with a rerun of the British GP in the background, and it was mostly simple. However, there were a few bits that didn’t’ seem to fit initially, and required a fair amount of jiggling around to slot in. There was also one screw (allegedly for the underside of the seat) which I abandoned entirely after a good ten minutes of fiddling. That’ll be one to have a look at another time.
The nature of this seat means there’s lots of reaching over and under things when building this, and it can be pretty awkward at times. It’s par for the course on Playseat products, and probably a reassuring sign of the strength of the thing – but it does get a little irritating.
Once you’ve assembled the frame, the last thing to do is affix the cushioning to the metal shell, which isn’t hard on the surface. However, you’ll want to spend a bit of time lining it up – this will likely be your home from home.
Of course, attaching your chosen wheel is the last step, but there’s enough screws and mounting points to make that a relatively unremarkable event.
The Playseat Formula Instinct: What’s good?
It’s easy to be cynical about am Formula 1-licenced product, but this racing seat takes a bit of theatre from the world of Drive to Survive. The rear seat has red chevrons on the back, which look good in person – and the front of the pedal box even has its own F1 wing-style endplates. Neither of these things add to the functionality of the Formula Instinct, but they do make it feel that bit more special. That’s especially true when compared to the Trophy.
The range of adjustability on this seat is also great. At 6ft 2-ish, I usually get a sinking feeling when I try racing seats, finding myself cramped and uncomfortable on even the largest setting. That’s not the case here. In fact, I had to readjust the seat after assembly to make it slightly shorter for me.
When you do need to make tweaks, you’ll find the Formula Instinct remarkably adjustable. When putting it together, the sheer number of redundant holes and attachments is something you quickly notice – just look at the area around the pedal box.
Finally, it’s more than sturdy enough to survive the most powerful direct drive wheels, and the shell of the seat feels racier and more engineered than the Trophy. It oozes F1 vibes, which is obviously a good thing. That’s also down to the more reclined seating position compared to the Trophy.
What’s less good?
Whichever way you look at it, the assembly process is more involving and complex than the Trophy’s and so it takes a bit of time to set up. Part of that comes from the seat. On one hand, it makes the Formula Instinct feel robust and racier – but it also makes the chair impossible to fold: this takes up a lot of space, and there’s no way to reduce it like the Trophy.
It’s also a little less comfortable than the Trophy too: although there’s lots of foam (two layers in fact) to cushion you, the Trophy’s hammock-style setup is inherently nicer to sit in.
There’s nothing inherently bad about the Formula Instinct other than the steep price, though you largely get what you pay for.
The Playseat Formula Instinct: Verdict
The Playseat range is large, and the Formula Instinct is right up there with the Trophy as one of the best the company offers. It looks great, has the F1 licence (which is cool, if we’re honest) and is compatible with the most powerful racing wheels around.
It’s hugely sturdy and does well on adjustability – but it’s a very different proposition to the Trophy. Larger and more permanent, the Formula Instinct is ideal for hardcore racers who want the feel of a real racing cockpit and the chance to make things as customised as possible. The Trophy is nearly as good, but better for those after a more part-time solution. You won’t go wrong with either, though.
Alternatives to consider
Playseat Trophy
The Playseat Trophy is a brilliant choice if you’re looking for a stylish racing cockpit that can be moved when not in use. It has impressive adjustability in the pedals, and that hammock-style setup offers greater comfort than most other racing cockpits – ideal for those endurance races.
Next Level Racing F-GT Pro Racing Cockpit
This industrial-grade cockpit has officially been licenced by the FIA, so if you want the true racing experience then it’s a good place to start. The F-GT range from Next Level Racing can be adjusted between a Formula-style setup and a GT-style setup, making it a two-in-one cockpit – why would you need anything else?
Next Level Racing F-GT Formula and GT Simulator Cockpit
Just like the F-GT Pro, this F-GT cockpit can be adjusted between a Formula-style setup and a GT-style setup, but it’s available at a budget-friendly price. It has a seat slider, to get the perfect racing position, and lumbar support. Who said E-Racing had to be uncomfortable?
How we tested it
We set the Formula Instinct up and paired with a Fanatec Podium racing wheel. After that we tried two things in particular: iRacing and then Gran Turismo on the PS5, though we’d also recommend F1 25 for the full F1 experience. Of course, this is compatible with all the games the wheel you use is, but it feels more natural when coupled with open-wheeled cars.
Who tested the Playseat Formula Instinct?
Curtis Moldrich is the Digital Editor of CAR, but found his way into automotive journalism through a love of motorsport – and hours of the early Gran Turismo and Formula One games. His job now means he often gets to drive high performance cars – and sometimes on track – but that hasn’t stopped him ‘honing his skills’ by spending hours on iRacing, F1 25 and Gran Turismo 7. ‘It’s for work,’ after all.