SPORT Formula 1®: Steering Wheel: Precision at fingertips

At TAG Heuer, our passion for Formula 1® runs deep — it’s part of our DNA. Welcome to this special series where we share what every true enthusiast should know about this thrilling sport. 

A Formula 1® steering wheel has the processing power of a laptop computer. Whilst its most basic tenet, turning the car, continues to mirror that of a road-legal machine, every other aspect has changed over the past 75 years. They are now feats of engineering excellence, having evolved over time to become the driver’s onboard control center, fully available to them at their fingertips. It is a progression emblematic of the rate of development seen throughout Formula 1®. 

How the F1® steering wheel has changed over time echoes the journey of time’s true master: The watchmaker. Like an intricate timepiece, the F1® steering wheel is crafted with ornate precision. 

As the Official Timekeeper of Formula 1, TAG Heuer understands this dedication to detail and the shared vision of complementary technological marvels, for the parallels between the two are undeniable.

Formula 1®, throughout its history, has strived to innovate, placing itself at the cutting edge of invention, a mission illustrated beautifully by the evolution of the F1® steering wheel. From its origins to today, here is a brief history of its evolution. 

At the advent of the championship, the only function of the steering wheel is to turn the car.

Made from aluminum and wood and round in shape, they are significantly larger than their modern-day equivalents. The reason for this is twofold: Formula 1® cars of the time have front engine designs and lack power steering, making them heavy and difficult to turn.
Therefore, drivers need larger steering wheels to afford them the necessary purchase and leverage to corner at high speed. 

Like the earliest chronographs in watchmaking, these wheels reflect a time when engineering meets simplicity — and where form follows function with uncompromising clarity.

Little changes in the design of the Formula 1® steering wheel in the series’ second decade.
The technology remains basic, especially by today’s standards, but there is a noteworthy change. The polished wood exterior gives way to leather-wrapped wheels, providing better comfort and, crucially, more grip.

The relatively slow pace of F1® steering wheel development continues into the 1970s, until the mid-point of the decade, when the first significant technological step is made.
Formula 1® engines of the day feature throttle sliders, which are prone to getting stuck open when dirt or gravel lodges in them. This poses a substantial safety risk, so steering wheels begin to feature emergency ignition kill switches — the first button to appear on one, equipped to quickly turn the engine off prior to crashing.

In the 1980s, the gentle evolution of the championship’s formative years gives way to its first revolution. Suede replaces leather to provide drivers with a better feel in the cockpit, and individual requirements begin to be incorporated into design. In a bid to meet the differing needs mandated by their specific driving styles, drivers experiment with distinctive thicknesses and sizes of steering wheels, all in pursuit of increasing precision and decreasing lap time. 

But the transformation doesn’t end there. Steering wheel functionality becomes more diverse — and important — and by the end of the decade, the introduction of semi-automatic gearboxes in F1® leads to the first use of two paddle shifts on the back of a steering wheel, replacing more conventional clutches. 

This, in turn, has the twin advantages of allowing drivers to race faster and of saving weight and, therefore, lap time.

As Formula 1® turns forty, a new era of steering wheel dawns. As a result of the great leaps forward in the 1980s, F1® teams gradually shift towards more square-like or butterfly designs.

The number of buttons skyrockets, and they are joined by rotary dials for the first time as steering wheels become even more technologically advanced, with an escalating number of options and settings selectable from inside the car. The F1® steering wheel becomes a hub — much like a complex watch, where every dial and button serves a precise function, blending mechanics and electronics in perfect harmony. 

As the new millennium approaches, electronics advance further and the first displays begin to appear, providing a wealth of information for the driver — just as TAG Heuer watches display more than time: they express mastery over it.

After small screens become commonplace, the rate of change starts to slow in the early 2000s. Ergonomics are progressively considered and suede gives way to rubber, which can be molded to the hands of the driver, further accentuating feel.

But the next noteworthy development does not occur until the start of the turbo-hybrid — and current — era in 2014. Given the complexity of the new power units, contemporary Formula 1® steering wheels, too, grow increasingly intricate.

To compensate for the proliferating number of options and the hundreds of settings now changeable through the steering wheel, LCD displays are introduced to better enable drivers to navigate through menus and, in response, the prevalence of unique, fully customizable steering wheels takes hold. 

Although the trend starts in the 1980s, the F1® steering wheel is now truly in the age of personal preference, where, through seemingly limitless versatility, no two models are the same — a reality that mirrors the TAG Heuer range — each piece designed not only for precision and performance, but also for the individual spirit of its owner.