F1 2011 is the handheld adaptation of the main F1 2011 game. It offers the full 2011 racing season with all stages and incorporates the multi-season career mode from the main game. Additionally, there are Grand Prix weekends and three-lap sprints. Grand Prix events are split up into practice runs, qualifying sessions, and the main races themselves. The game includes driving aids such as determining the race distance, weather effects, fuel options, and tire choices. It also features the KERS and DRS systems from the main version.
Unique to the handheld versions is a number of mini-game challenges, including checkpoints races, overtaking, autocross-style slaloms, or racing in specific situations such as the last two laps of a race in the rain with the wrong tires equipped. These challenges are organized in tiers with a bonus one at the end. The performance in these challenges is ranked with a letter. The game can be played online and uses 3DS StreetPass to unlock rival ghosts. Both versions support multiplayer, local as well as online, in head-to-head time trials or in a full Grand Prix.
Differences from the console version include downgraded graphics, a simplified damage model, and certain animated sequences that have been cut.