Every part of Formula 1 (F1) cars, which can reach a speed of 370 km per hour and have an average value of 20 million euros, is truly gold. The angle that most of us enjoy while watching the F1 race is the helmet camera, which we watch the race through the eyes of the pilot. Undoubtedly, the first question that comes to our minds while watching the race from the helmet camera is why there are so many buttons on the F1 steering wheel and what the pilots can do with these buttons.
Let’s take a look at what a talented pilot can do with these complex keys at his fingertips, even at 370 km/h.
Since F1 cars are unique, naturally not every steering wheel is the same, but we can easily say that the steering wheels are similar.
- The wheels of two Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel, who were teammates in the 2019 season. Can you see the differences?
The reason why F1 pilots are called pilots rather than drivers is that they both drive at high speed and their steering wheel is more like an airplane steering wheel than a car. Let alone the unique steering wheel design of each team, even the pilots in the same team have different steering wheels. These specially designed steering wheels are designed in such a way that the pilots feel most comfortable.
Although we do not have enough time to examine the steering wheel of every driver, we are sure that a closer look at the F1-75 will satisfy all of us on this subject.
In the image above, the steering wheel of the Ferrari F1-75, designed by Italian giant Scuderia Ferrari, one of the most established teams of F1, in 2022 and used this season. Although it is not obvious when you look at the steering wheel from the front, the DRS button, one of the greatest strengths of the pilots, is on the back of the steering wheel, right under the pilot’s hand.
The LCD screen in the middle of the steering wheel, on the other hand, transmits communication notifications and many other information, especially the status of the vehicle, to the pilot at the speed of light.
But why is the shape of this miraculous F1 steering wheel different from the one we are used to?
- Change of F1 steering wheels over time.
In today’s cars, the steering wheels are in the shape of a circle to provide a full turn, but because F1 cars do not need a full turn, they do not need such a steering wheel. The steering wheels of F1 vehicles are designed to provide space advantage in the vehicle, so that the pilots can also save knee distance. Also, this design offers a more comfortable grip with both hands.
How quickly the pilot can get out of the vehicle in the event of an accident depends on how easily the steering wheel can be removed.
While watching F1 races, we see that at the end of the race, the pilots remove the steering wheel and put it on the vehicle before getting out of the vehicle. In fact, drivers have to do this every time because getting out of an F1 car with a steering wheel is almost impossible. For this reason, the steering wheels of F1 vehicles are designed to be easily removed.
What about the steering wheels and functions of F1 cars?
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