The steering wheel is an essential component in a racing car, whether electric or not, since it is the means for the driver to control the vehicle, which is connected to the steering system through a set of pinions and racks, allowing to turn to change the direction of the wheels.
In general, they are usually smaller than a normal car steering wheel, with a diameter ranging between 30 and 36 centimeters, allowing better control and precision when maneuvering at high speeds, and even have a more ergonomic shape to improve grip and comfort during the race.
They are made of light and resistant materials, such as carbon fiber, aluminum or magnesium, in order to reduce the overall weight of the car and improve its performance. Also, they often have additional reinforcements to increase rigidity and resistance to extreme loads during competition.
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More Features
Most racing steering wheels come with buttons and switches mounted on them to allow the driver to control various car functions, most notably gear changes, hand brakes, tire settings, braking adjustment, DRS (in Formula 1) Attack Mode (Formula E), among others.
Some also have built-in screens (such as Formula 1 or Formula E) to display important information during the race, such as speed, engine rpm, water temperature, safety car exit, flags or power unit map, for example.
Finally, a clear difference between the Formula 1 and Formula E steering wheel is that in the 100% electric single-seater category, they are all the same, while in the top category of world motorsport the design can be adapted to suit the teams.
Written by | Ronald Ortega
