REVscene Automotive Forum - Why F1 steering wheels have over 20 buttons

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Why F1 steering wheels have over 20 buttons – and what they all do

I didn't realize they used a hand operated clutch but it makes sense.

I heard that around monaco, including up/down shifts they are making up to 200 changes on the steering wheel a lap for qualifying. In my opinion, it is too much.

rich

"and the speed limiter, when you come into the pits, you push the button, and the car will not be able to go over 100kph"

I'm not sure if that's any safer..

I've heard there's multiple paddles behind the wheel too, depending if a team wants to use DRS or KERS as a paddle or a button.

lol more buttons on the back coz there isnt enough room on the front.. WTF...

and cant he show the back???

he said it was his wheel at the beginning then at the end he said its micheal's

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmperorIS (Post 7449949)

he said it was his wheel at the beginning then at the end he said its micheal's

Nico and Michael are on the same F1 team so they have identical wheels.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mancini (Post 7449724)

I didn't realize they used a hand operated clutch but it makes sense.

only from a standstill, gear changes up and down don't require the clutch paddle

Quote:

Originally Posted by taylor192 (Post 7449872)

I've heard there's multiple paddles behind the wheel too, depending if a team wants to use DRS or KERS as a paddle or a button.

it might have changed, but from what i remember, the paddles are; gear up, gear down, and 2 clutch paddles...

Quote:

Originally Posted by FerrariEnzo (Post 7449908)

lol more buttons on the back coz there isnt enough room on the front.. WTF...

and cant he show the back???

there is a lot of stuff the driver can control, so they need a lot of dials and such haha... and the reason they can't show the back is the design of the wheel is proprietary, like layout of the electronics, and the structure of the wheel. they don't want to give even the smallest detail away... look at how redbull has like 5 of the mechanics stand around the back of the car while it's on the grid haha.

The back of the steering wheel usually have 6 paddles (Mclaren started it in 2008).

2 for Clutch
1 Gear up
1 Gear down
2 paddles that controls torque.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawr (Post 7449977)

Nico and Michael are on the same F1 team so they have identical wheels.

he also said that the grips are custom made... which I assume means each driver has grips made for their own hands

Quote:

Originally Posted by freakshow (Post 7449841)

"and the speed limiter, when you come into the pits, you push the button, and the car will not be able to go over 100kph"

I'm not sure if that's any safer..

it is when you consider their stopping power & the reaction times of these racers - these aren't normal cars or normal people, nothing like it

Q - Why F1 steering wheels have over 20 buttons – and what they all do

A - They all control how many people will die

Quote:

Originally Posted by c3m (Post 7450718)

The back of the steering wheel usually have 6 paddles (Mclaren started it in 2008).

2 for Clutch
1 Gear up
1 Gear down
2 paddles that controls torque.

During one of the races they were discussing how each team and driver is handling KERS and DRS and that some teams/drivers have a 7th and 8th paddle for these. Crazy!

Don't forget those are just the controls on the steering wheel!

There are still some controls in the cockpit that the drivers adjust!!

I wanna see the back WTF