Different setups

I would love that too 🙃

It'd be lovely to have some handling characteristics more noticeable in the game. But... There are a few things to notice.

• I think it's inescapable that handling tendencies will render different performance expectations on different tracks. So I don't see how equal performance should avoid squashing the handling to be as plain porridge to some extent. It is not all about top speed; if cars have different performance on corner entry or on corner exit, or different drag coefficients you won't be equalizing their performance just by capping their top speed. Some tracks will suit them better than others.
• Proper air simulation would indeed be a big plus, but you'll hardly find that feature outside of proprietary simulators. Now different pre-established parameters for variables like air density, and a greater impact from ambient and track temperatures, that's a different story – and way more feasible. Will it really improve the game to the same extent as baking in more handling diversity though? Would our experience be that much better if we had the thin air of Mexico and the air density of Monaco coded in the game if an Aston Martin still drives the same as a Williams?

We've still got a long way to go.

Edit: it's not like it needs to be one feature or another – regarding air and handling. It's just that, in the context of this post and the underlying issue of all too samey of an experience no matter the car, air simulation doesn't really achieve anything.