Made of wood, leather and metal, the Formula 1 steering wheels used in the 1950s , by drivers such as Juan Manuel Fangio , had very different dimensions to what we are used to today, but also did a somewhat different job.
To counteract the weight of the car and the lack of power steering, it was necessary to have a large-diameter steering wheel so that the driver was subjected to the car’s inertia as little as possible. Being bolted, or even welded, to the steering column, it was a very dangerous element in the event of an impact, especially in addition to the fact that seat belts were not mandatory.
Steering wheel of the Ferrari 375.
Twenty years later, the formula remains relatively the same, except that the wheels are now smaller, as a result of the cars’ reduced weight and lower but wider tyres. Some teams are starting to add rudimentary but essential features, such as a circuit breaker that the pilot can activate with a switch, to protect against possible electrical failures.
Ferrari 312B steering wheel.
In the early 1980s , with the introduction of turbocharged engines, buttons that activated the turbo boost were added. This pressure increase was only done in bursts (“on” or “off”), making this operation quite violent.
In the 1980s, radio communication, so unthinkable to do away with today, was also popularized between the driver and his team on the pit wall, and push-to-talk buttons were added to steering wheels. Another innovation was a “quick release” system, which allowed the steering wheel to be separated from the steering column and which, today, we see many times over the course of a weekend.
The incredible rise of computing and telemetry in the mid- 1990s had a considerable impact on the functionality of the steering wheel: knobs and buttons were added to adjust traction control and engine efficiency, as well as activate the speed limiter. pit speed.
In order to make these innovations as ergonomic as possible, the shape of the steering wheel itself changed: it became more rectangular, with two handles on each side. With the generalization of semi-automatic gearboxes, gear levers appeared on the back of the steering wheel, which allowed the driver to change gear without having to move his hands from the steering wheel.
Ferrari F399 (650) steering wheel illustration.
In the 2000s, the steering wheel became a more technological element. Digital displays of speed and gear began to appear, as well as colored LED lights to indicate engine speed.
The steering wheels, already made of carbon, began to be very similar to those we see today and the pilots began to customize them according to their preferences.
Arrows A21 steering wheel.
In 2014 the ultra-complex control units arrived, with practically unlimited modes and adjustments, especially for those who see it from the outside. The LCD screen can display a dizzying array of information, such as tire and brake temperatures, power levels and lap times.
There are more than 100 pages of information available to the pilot. As a result, the screen is now about 12 centimeters in size and occupies almost all of the available space on the face of the steering wheel. This screen, designed and produced by McLaren, is the same for all teams.
As the power units are virtually the same today as they were in 2014, the flywheels and their technology have changed little since then.
The steering wheel of George Russell’s Mercedes W13.
