A Formula 1 automobile and your everyday sedan share many similarities―they both have four tires, a driver and an engine, but they are also very different machines. Both Formula 1 and consumer drivers regularly interact with their steering wheel, yet the differences in just those two parts are staggering. In Formula 1, the steering wheel is one of the most proprietary and essential systems of the car. We'll explore some of the essential components that make a Formula 1 steering wheel the control console for the entire vehicle.
Tactile Interface for F1 Steering Wheel Controls
Your reliable Honda Civic has buttons and dials to control the radio and air temperature, but a Formula 1 race car's buttons, dials, paddles and knobs are an essential part of the vehicle's control system. An F1 steering wheel acts as the entire interface between the driver and the vehicle, and is specifically calibrated to the driver's ergonomics and preferences.
For example, here's the steering wheel used in Lotus's 2012 Formula 1 car. This wheel hosts over 29 different tactile control devices.
This legacy steering wheel model controls:
· Brake temperature
· Tire temperature
· Battery recharge status
· Brake bias
· Oil flow in the event of an emergency
· Engine speed relative to tire circumference
The wheel can also set the entire car into "pit" mode, as well as perform the following actions:
· Limit speed
· Toggle power to failed or unneeded sensors
· Adjust display information
· Regulate the power unit
· Control front and rear differential lock settings
· Place the car into neutral without changing gears
· Toggle the radio to communicate with the pit
· Modify clutch reaction
· Activate the clutch
· Switch gears
· Shoot a drink of water into the driver's mouth (not joking!)
During each and every lap of a race or qualifying event, the driver continuously updates the car to control it with as much precision as possible. Think of a Formula 1 steering wheel like the cockpit of a rocket ship: its purpose extends far beyond a simple steering mechanism―it is a means of changing and understanding nearly every aspect of the race car's performance.
These tactile interfaces often use aerospace-grade components, which allows them to be extremely lightweight and resilient against fierce vibrations and accidental activation. Without the wide array of specifically designed buttons, knobs, rotary dials, switches and paddles, F1 race cars would be more dangerous and less competitive on race day.
F1 Steering Wheel Displays
Over the last two decades, we've seen a sharp increase in the use of high-tech electronics in every type of car, and F1 is certainly no exception. Terabytes of data are at work in niche sensors, complex electronic controls systems, energy recovery systems and remarkably fine-tuned electronics to help optimize the car before, during and after a race. While much of this data is recorded and sent to the pit crew for in-depth analysis during races, the driver must be the one to make any adjustments during a race. To help the driver understand active system performance throughout the vehicle without the assistance of their pit crew, displays play a critical role in the race and the F1 race car, as a whole.
Unlike consumer cars, F1 vehicles only have one display (which, as you may have guessed, sits directly in the middle of the steering wheel). As recently as 2012, limited display and software technology meant that most of the critical system information was not available directly to the driver during a race. Drivers were usually only able to see:
· The gear the transmission currently engaged
· A series of lights representing the rev count
· The flag status on the track
Modern F1 Steering Wheels
In modern F1 steering wheels, such as the 2019 Mercedes F1 steering wheel pictured below, the driver can toggle through various proprietary screen displays to view the information they wish to see. Again, these screen views are highly proprietary, but most display information such as:
· Transmission gear status
· Rev counts
· Battery charge
· Turbo RPM
Display screens on F1 race cars are optimized for high visibility in harsh light conditions, resistant against moisture and vibration and extremely lightweight, ensuring that they don't add unnecessary weight to the car.
Conclusion
On race day, the steering wheel is perhaps the most critical component in an F1 car. These steering wheels offer a precise balance between functional control, customized ergonomics and meticulous engineering. They are highly customized devices and can reach a cost of nearly $100,000, making them much more expensive than your average steering wheel. This tiny, lightweight device is the maestro of the powertrain, the information and control conduit between the car and the driver, and the essence of modern-day F1 racing―powerful, precise, and precious.
