Inside the F1 Steering Wheel: How 20+ Buttons Give Drivers Total Control on Track

Formula 1 cars are great feats of engineering, built for battle, efficiency, and total optimisation. Each car has thousands of components that contribute to the performance, and one of the most essential parts is, of course, the steering wheel. But this is not any regular steering wheel.

Every team has a slightly different set-up of their steering wheel, and specific elements even vary from driver to driver. Each driver has a unique driving style and grip preference which impacts how they want their steering wheel to function.

For example, 7-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton has a distinct way of handling his steering wheel, slotting his fingers between the gear-shift paddles. Every driver will give their input on how they want the steering wheel to feel, which the team can then take into account.

What are the most notable functions on an F1 steering wheel?

While there are over twenty functions on every steering wheel, all of which are extremely important in every session, some settings are more well known by fans than others.

The DRS (Drag Reduction System) button is probably the most familiar to fans, having been a prominent feature of F1 cars since its introduction in 2011. When a driver pushes the button at the start of a DRS activation zone, it temporarily reduces the car’s downforce and aids in overtaking. This is obviously incredibly important for a driver to have control over, and is just one of many features that keep the car competitive during a race.

A closer look at a modern F1 steering wheel 🔍#F1 #Motorsport pic.twitter.com/Cje0XPxVem

— Motorsport (@Motorsport) June 16, 2021

Another vital function is that of the gear paddles. According to Mercedes, a driver will shift the paddles around 50 times on a single lap at the Australian Grand Prix. There are indicators on the wheel that help drivers find the optimal shift point across the lap. In addition to this, drivers are able to adjust their brake balance, essentially fine-tuning their car from corner to corner. This means that drivers can adjust where brake pressure is applied: to the front or the rear axles.

Every single input is essential to the drivers

Some functions may seem less important than others, but every available function on the steering wheel can be vital. The drink system button might not seem as essential as the  DRS button, but when drivers can lose 4 kilograms over the course of a single race, it puts into perspective how important hydration is.

The radio button can often seem trivial, but it allows drivers to communicate with their engineers, and without it, we have seen drivers struggle to manage issues in the car. It is a vital function that keeps the drivers informed about potential management issues, strategy, pit-stops, and surrounding competitors.

An #F1 steering wheel is easier to operate than it looks… isn’t it? 🤔

We enlisted the help of an expert – thanks, @RGrosjean 👍 👀 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/qNWR65oVkV

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 16, 2017

Apart from these, there are several other buttons that change how the car performs. An F1 driver has the ability to change the differential, brake balance, engine and battery modes, and a lot more from just the steering wheel. Every single setting has a major impact on the performance of the F1 car over the course of a lap.

This is why F1 drivers are among the best in the world. It’s not just getting into the cockpit of an F1 car and driving; it’s about controlling every single aspect of the car from just a steering wheel without losing focus in pushing the car to the limit on every lap of every race.