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The steering wheels of current Formula 1 cars are not only handmade work of arts, but they are also highly concentrated pieces of advanced technologies.
Steering wheels are not purchased, but entirely designed and hand made by each team to suit the demands of their drivers and engineers.
Since there are no dashboards in the modern F1 cars, all the controls, switches and displays are located on the steering wheels, allowing the driver to make adjustments to the car performance and behaviour while driving at 300 km/h.
Drivers can modify the settings of the engine, the KERS, the DRS, the differential and the brake balance.
Although all steering wheels are different, most buttons and switches are common to all of them.
N: Puts gearbox in neutral
DIF: Adjust the settings of the differential
RADIO: To talk to the team by radio
DRINK: To drink during the race
PUMP: Activates reserve oil tank
REV: Set maximum revs of the engine
MIX: To change engine maps to save fuel, for example
TRQ: (Torque) Changes torque settings, changes torque delivery
BOOST:To increase power delivery to pass another car
CHRG: To make adjustments to the KERS
BP: Bite Point Finder, used to accurately measure the clutch bite point
OK: To acknowledge radio message
10 + : To change a selected value by increments of 10
1 -: To change a selected value by increments of 1
PIT: Set speed limiter in the pit lane
Steering wheels are not purchased, but entirely designed and hand made by each team to suit the demands of their drivers and engineers.
Since there are no dashboards in the modern F1 cars, all the controls, switches and displays are located on the steering wheels, allowing the driver to make adjustments to the car performance and behaviour while driving at 300 km/h.
Drivers can modify the settings of the engine, the KERS, the DRS, the differential and the brake balance.
Although all steering wheels are different, most buttons and switches are common to all of them.
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| Steering wheel of the Ferrari F138. (Photo WRI2) |
N: Puts gearbox in neutral
DIF: Adjust the settings of the differential
RADIO: To talk to the team by radio
DRINK: To drink during the race
PUMP: Activates reserve oil tank
REV: Set maximum revs of the engine
MIX: To change engine maps to save fuel, for example
TRQ: (Torque) Changes torque settings, changes torque delivery
BOOST:To increase power delivery to pass another car
CHRG: To make adjustments to the KERS
BP: Bite Point Finder, used to accurately measure the clutch bite point
OK: To acknowledge radio message
10 + : To change a selected value by increments of 10
1 -: To change a selected value by increments of 1
PIT: Set speed limiter in the pit lane
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| Steering wheel of the Lotus E21. (Photo WRI2) |
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| Steering wheel of the Caterham CT03. (Photo WRI2) |
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| Steering wheel of the Williams FW35. (Photo WRI2) |
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| Steering wheel of the Red Bull RB9. (Photo WRI2) |
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| Ferrari F138 (Photo WRI2) |