5 Reasons Why You Can't Go Faster in Gran Turismo 7

Since getting into Gran Turismo back in 2019, I've learned a lot about what actually makes you faster, and what really doesn't. Competing in top splits has exposed me to a wide range of driving styles and techniques. I've seen firsthand what translates well... and what just doesn’t. And now, after coaching other drivers for a few years, I think I’ve developed a pretty solid picture of the most common mistakes people make. And over the years I became a much much faster driver. And in this video, I’m going to narrow down the top five mistakes I see most often.

Let’s Begin with References

These points are your guides on the circuit. But they’re not just about braking markers, as many drivers think. I use them for everything, turn-in points, acceleration zones, even subtle steering corrections. They tell you exactly where to brake, turn, and get back on the power. And my recommendation is to Always go for stationary objects, things like kerbs, signs, or permanent track marks, something that doesn’t move when you drive.

But, the biggest advantage of using references is consistency. They let you follow the same patterns every time, and that’s exactly why you’ll notice top-rated players clocking insanely consistent lap times.

Stop Braking Too Late

And a lot of drivers think late braking is the key to fast, consistent lap times, but it’s actually the opposite. Now, don’t get me wrong, you can’t brake at 150 if the fast guys are braking at 100. That just won’t work. But here’s the thing: most players believe that braking later gives them a better shot at the corner… and that’s just not true. It’s way more effective for beginners to brake slightly earlier and keep the car under control.

One of the most common mistakes I see is drivers carrying too much speed into the middle of the corner. The car ends up drifting wider than it can handle, and here’s the critical part: the front end is extremely sensitive to grip loss. Once that initial front-end grip is gone, it’s incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to get it back mid-corner. At that point, the tires have gone beyond their optimal slip angle, and you’re left fighting reduced traction just to stay on line. The result? You lose all your exit speed.

That’s why it’s so important to brake on time and make sure you reduce your speed properly in the middle of the corner. Focus on getting a clean exit with good traction, that’s where the real time is gained, not by pushing too hard on entry.

I’ve created a dedicated space where I break down all the most common mistakes drivers make in Gran Turismo—and more importantly, I explain exactly how to fix them. It’s everything you need to know to truly understand the game and start getting faster, more consistent lap times. 

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Racing Lines

I’ve watched countless replays where drivers weren’t using the optimal line, and they’d always say the same thing: ‘I’m using the same line as you… but I’m still two seconds slower. How’s that possible? And my answer is always the same: You’re not using the same line I am. Because when I analyze their laps, I start to see the small things like not using the full width of the track… or missing out on track space altogether. Gran Turismo actually has pretty lenient track limits, and you can use them.

Now, looking at this example, you can see exactly how easy it is to lose time, sometimes a second or more, just from small mistakes that build up over a lap. Think about it: If you’re losing just a tenth of a second per corner, and the track has 15 corners, that’s 1.5 seconds lost. That’s huge, especially at this level. Even losing just fifty thousandths per turn adds up fast. And I’ve seen plenty of drivers lose two tenths per corner, or even more, just from not using the full width of the track.

Understand Your Inputs

Here’s a small technique I use myself when I’m chasing a record: I break down my braking and throttle inputs into zones, think of them as 25%, 50%, and 75%. It’s not just about hitting the pedals hard or going full throttle; it’s about being precise and controlled with your inputs.

For braking, this means I’m not always slamming the pedal to 100%. In fact, in many corners, especially mid-speed technical ones, I’ve found that 50% brake pressure is more than enough to get the car to slow down just the right amount. This lets the car stay balanced under braking, which helps with rotation and makes the front end more responsive. Slamming the brakes too hard can overload the tires, destabilize the car, or even lock up the wheels, so having this more nuanced approach helps me stay in control.

Over-Slowing the Car

One of the most common driving mistakes I see? Braking harder than necessary, lose momentum, and make it impossible to carry speed through the racing line. And once that happens, even the perfect line won’t help, because the car just doesn’t have the speed to make it work. That’s why I always suggest learning your own wheel and pedals. Figure out how much steering input you need. Figure out how much braking you actually need. Also, a big issue with beginners is turning the wheel too much. To the point where the car can’t hold that kind of pressure under braking. For example, if you’re braking in a straight line and try to turn in aggressively, it won’t work.

When you lose too much speed on corner entry, it’s really difficult to get that momentum back. The car slows down more than necessary, and by the time you try to accelerate again, you’ve already lost valuable time. Not only does this hurt your overall lap time, but it also kills your consistency. Every lap becomes unpredictable because you’re either braking too much or trying to recover speed in the wrong places, which throws off your rhythm and flow.

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I really hope you enjoyed it! And hey, let me know in the comments: what's been your biggest struggle in racing so far? I’d love to hear from you.