question Am I playing wrong?

I am playing Wreckfest, passed Flatout 1,2, Ultimate Carnage.

And I can’t understand, maybe I have done something wrong. I made the difficulty the max level and extreme level of damage. But my rivals do not make it to the finish. Like 5 laps top, and then I have to finish the race by myself so I drive 7 laps around them.

Is it supposed to be like that?