Latest updates to the AI tackled the way they're taking corners. It was a subtle change. AI still has unrealistic amount of traction out of corners. We're just able to drive faster, because their cornering speed is low. It's super clear when you look at AI during the formation laps. Suddenly out of corners you have to floor it to keep with them.
Anyway, this post isn't about their ability to take corners, but their straight line speed & aero setup.
Take a look at the Suzuka circuit.
To match the way AI takes first corners, you'd have to leave the default aero setup, or even bump up the front wing.
But then they fly past you on the straights, even with DRS on.
So you set aero way below default setup. You compromise the esses, but you can fight on the 2 main straights.
Same story on Imola.
It's not that it's hard to beat the bots, but their "setups" on these tracks is just off and it makes the race a little weird.
And AI driving is just inconsistent over different tracks.
Any time I play japan or imola or similar circuits during my career mode, it just sucks all joy out of me. There's no good fights, there's just falling behind in the first sector and catching up later, or the opposite.