23 Feb 2025
F1 Steering Wheel Buttons Explained
F1 racing cars are marvels of engineering. They cost millions to design and are constantly evolving to push the boundaries of performance. Among the many components, the F1 steering wheel stands out as one of the central elements of these powerful machines, brimming with advanced technology.
Meticulously designed, F1 steering wheels are crammed with buttons, switches, and dials that rapidly fine-tune various vehicle settings. They empower drivers to make split-second decisions, adjust their cars in real-time, and maintain a competitive edge on the track. But for newcomers to Formula 1, the sheer number of steering wheel buttons can be intimidating.
Here, we aim to demystify these intricate controls, explaining how the world’s fastest drivers rely on them for safety, strategy, and success on the track—and how you can do the same. If you master the steering wheel buttons on your racing simulator, you’ll be one step ahead of the competition.
F1 Buttons on Steering Wheels: What Do They Do?
Purchasing an F1 sim racing wheel is an exciting upgrade for your simulator. While more advanced than those seen in regular cars—according to Mercedes, their wheels have 25 unique F1 buttons, switches, and paddles—mastering the controls will rapidly improve your performance on the grid.
Here is a rundown of the most important F1 steering wheel buttons and switches you’ll also find on your sim racing wheel.
1. Shift Paddles
Unlike most vehicles, F1 cars don’t have gearsticks. Instead, drivers switch between gears using two shift paddles on the steering wheel's rear. The left paddle typically handles downward shifts, while the right manages upshifts.
Interestingly, F1 steering wheels didn’t always have these buttons. Cars used to have gearsticks until Ferrari created the first F1 car with a semi-automatic gearbox and shift paddles in 1989. Following the team's success on the track, most F1 cars quickly copied the design—the innovation replaced traditional gearsticks and became standard by 1995.
2. Gearbox Neutral Button
The gearbox neutral button (marked with the letter “N”) quickly puts the car in neutral, forcing the vehicle to come to a halt. This is essential during pit stops and for safety, such as avoiding throttle oversteering or sliding on unpredictable road surfaces.
Alternatively, holding down both switch paddles simultaneously can engage neutral. However, it can be difficult to quickly grab both paddles and press them at the same time while hurling around corners. Having a dedicated gear neutral button offers a more reliable and accessible option while speeding around the track.
3. Drag Reduction System Button
The drag reduction system (DRS) is a controversial driver-controlled mechanism introduced in the 2011 season. The mechanism is activated by pressing the DRS button on the steering wheel, which opens the rear wing of the F1 vehicle, reduces the car's drag and makes it easier to overtake.
The FIA has announced that it will scrap DRS for overtaking in the 2026 season and introduce a new overtaking aid called Manual Override Mode (MOM). However, the DRS button will remain on F1 steering wheels, as the function can be used to reduce drag on the straight.
4. Radio Button
The radio button on an F1 steering wheel makes it easy for drivers to communicate with the engineers and pit wall during the middle of the race. When pressed, the radio is activated, and the drivers can talk to their team using a microphone and earpiece inside their helmet.
5. Pit Confirm Button
Pressing the pit confirm button signals the team to prepare for a pit stop. This button is vital to F1 racing strategy, allowing the team members on the ground to perform quick tyre changes and adjustments during a race.
6. Pit Limiter Button
For safety reasons, F1 regulations state that drivers must not exceed speeds of 80 km/h when entering the pits. This is where the pit limiter button comes in handy. When pressed, it keeps the F1 car from accelerating beyond the pit lane speed limit, even if the driver goes full throttle.
Importantly, hitting the pit limiter won’t slow you down—you still need to hit the brakes to reach the pit limit speed, then hit the button to ensure you don’t surpass the limit.
7. Skip 1/10 Preset
The skip 1/10 preset button is one of the most critical F1 steering wheel buttons. It allows the drivers to quickly adjust specific settings in increments of 1 or 10. This might include changing the brake bias, engine modes, fuel mix, etc.
The option to increase various settings incrementally is extremely useful. The Skip 1 option is necessary for minor adjustments, allowing you to finetune your car for a specific setup. In comparison, the Skip 10 lets you make large changes quickly, allowing rapid responses to track conditions, tyre wear, and other variables that can impact performance.
8. Accept Button
The accept button works alongside the skip 1/10 feature to confirm the changes to the car settings. First, the drivers scroll through the various settings in increments of 1 or 10. Once they’ve selected the desired changes, the accept button applies them.
9. Differential Button
The differential button on an F1 steering wheel adjusts the differential settings of the car. These are vital for controlling the distribution of power between the wheels. Fine-tuning the settings changes the vehicle's handling, allowing you to adjust for tight corners or high-speed turns.
Three main differential settings can be controlled via this button: on-throttle differential, off-throttle differential, and mid-corner differential (also called preload).
10. Engine Braking Button
The engine braking button controls the engine's braking effect. Higher levels can provide more declaration without using the brakes, whereas low levels let the F1 vehicle move more smoothly.
You can strategically use the engine braking button on your F1 steering wheel. For example, track grip levels, weather conditions, and tyre wear might determine how much engine braking you want. Optimal use can also help conserve fuel, which can be part of your racing strategy.
11. Brake Balance Adjuster
Also known as the brake bias, the brake balance adjuster alters how the braking force is distributed through the front and back wheels. It can be a button or a small dial on the steering wheel, allowing tiny changes, such as 0.5% or 1% shifts in either direction.
Having precise control over the brakes is vital for strategy. More forward braking force improves stability, which is useful in wet conditions. Rearward bias helps the car take sharp corners and is useful in technical, twisty sections of the track. A balance between the two is vital for good tyre management, which Zak O’Sullivan relied on to clinch his win at Monaco F2 in 2024.
12. Mark Button
The mark button on an F1 steering wheel allows drivers to flag specific events during the lap. When pressed, a timestamp and digital location marker are recorded in the car’s telemetry system, which engineers can review later.
This feature can be helpful if the driver experiences handling issues or unusual car behaviours. The engineers can review telemetry data from the specific time point to troubleshoot problems. It can also aid analysis during practice sessions, such as flagging different car setups to compare performance.
13. Race Start Button
The race start button on an F1 steering wheel manages various systems to give drivers a strong race start. It helps the driver achieve the optimal engine RMP and clutch bite point, adjusts the differential settings to aid with rapid acceleration, and sets the fuel and engine recovery system to the most aggressive modes.
This helps achieve maximum acceleration in the essential first moments of the race. Having a single button to control these settings is also advantageous. It ensures consistent race starts and reduces the risk of human error in the crucial start phase.
14. Strat Mode Rotary
The strat mode rotary (“strategy mode rotary”) allows the driver to select pre-programmed car configurations. For example, each configuration may have distinct settings for power output, engine recovery, fuel mixture or consumption, and temperature control.
The dial enables drivers to make real-time adjustments to the car’s setup when race conditions change rapidly, such as weather changes or virtual safety car deployments. It also allows drivers to implement strategic moves quickly. For instance, switching to a high-power mode when needing to overtake or a fuel-saving mode when leading the race.
15. Menu Rotary
The menu rotary is another dial that drivers can twist to quickly choose between various car settings. However, unlike the strategy mode rotary that controls settings linked to the vehicle’s performance, it adjusts parameters like radio volume and brightness of the steering wheel’s display screen.
16. HPP Rotary
HPP stands for “hybrid power plan,” and this rotary switch controls the engine modes of the F1 vehicle. There are a vast number of power unit settings that can be fine-tuned in F1 cars. This dial lets the driver quickly select their preferred option to boost performance.
17. LED Indicator
Although it’s not an F1 steering wheel button, the LED indicator above the central display is worth mentioning. These lights provide drivers with critical, real-time information about the race. Their position on the steering wheel ensures drivers can easily see and interpret the information without taking their eyes off the track.
Various information is communicated via these visual cues. For example, some LEDs light up progressively as engine RPM increases, helping drivers shift gears in perfect timing. Others indicate what colour flags marshals are waving.
The Ultimate F1 Sim Racing Wheel
If you’re looking to build the perfect F1 sim racing cockpit, a realistic steering wheel is key. At FPZERO, our Formula GPX sim racing wheel is as accurate as it gets. The design is inspired by the Formula 1 steering wheels used by professional drivers, complete with a built-in dashboard, LED display, and—of course—a myriad of F1 buttons.
In total, our state-of-the-art Grand Prix wheel has 9 rotaries and 12 steering wheel buttons, including all the essential controls we explained above. When paired with our Pro II racing simulator, you can also add a quick-release option, allowing you to swap wheels in seconds.
If you want even more controls than this, our digital button boxes provide the perfect upgrade. They give you extra F1 buttons, switches, and rotaries, helping you maximise your hardware and giving you even more vehicle settings at your fingertips.
Visit our website or contact us directly to learn more about our Formula 1 racing simulators. From F1 sim racing wheels to professional-grade pedals and displays with stunning visuals, you’ll feel like you’re sitting in the cockpit of a real F1 racecar.
