Steering Wheels 2013

[pocketmoon]

Wheel related fact - the gear change indicator lights are adjusted for each drivers reaction times. Well they are at Marussia

[siskue2005]

With regards to Hamilton giving feedback on steering wheels,

Here's the 2009 steering wheel (before feedback):



The key changes are basically that they moved the dash display onto the wheel (which happened in-season in 2009)

I have a theory, it is Newey's liking that they kept the dash display out of the steering wheel in early 2000s
As soon as Newey moved to RBR they also moved the dash display out of steering wheel and still in 2012 it is out of the steering wheel
So I guess it was Newey who wanted it out of the wheel, mclaren just followed the trend until someone or Lewis changed it

With regards to Hamilton giving feedback on steering wheels,

Here's the 2010 steering wheel (after feedback):


The key changes are basically that they moved the dash display onto the wheel (which happened in-season in 2009) and they basically just cut off the bottom part of the handles - so that they just "hang down" instead of connecting back to the "body" of the steering wheel. This happened in the 2009/2010 winter.

They removed the bottom half in 2010 due to f duct, as it made easy to pull the hand out to close and open the f-duct

[turbof1]

The f-duct was controlled by the knee, not by the hand. Nothing to do with the steering wheel.
Only logical that they move the buttons more above. It gives better reach for the fingers. Compare it with a xbox controller:

No buttons down there because those could only be reached by completely stretching the thumb or downright taking the hand off the wheel, which would either result into a painful hand at the end of the race, loosing each time a bit of reaction time by taking the hand off, or both.

F1 teams could learn alot from console builders concerning ergonomics.

Is there a recent image of vettel's image? I bet that he has something similar to Hamilton.

[siskue2005]

The f-duct was controlled by the knee, not by the hand. Nothing to do with the steering wheel.

Yup it was used by knee initially, but at Turkey Mclren switched to hand operated one...with the bottom half cut steering wheel
watch his left hand, he is using the f-duct switch...it was discussed here back then extensively about how hand operated is better than knee
here are some videos
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_BUIEhvmPg[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht4lyAvze4U[/youtube]

[turbof1]

The f-duct was controlled by the knee, not by the hand. Nothing to do with the steering wheel.

Yup it was used by knee initially, but at Turkey Mclren switched to hand operated one...with the bottom half cut steering wheel
watch his left hand, he is using the f-duct switch...it was discussed here back then extensively about how hand operated is better than knee

Yes, I knew that too (although I was under the impression it came later at the year). However, point still stands that they did not modify the steering for the f-duct, atleast not until Turkey then. Watching from the video, it remained the same steering wheel.

[Nando]

Hamilton 2013 steering wheel tweeted by Mercedes

Interesting he uses entry diff settings that close for quick changes but not mid or exit.
In fact i can´t even see mid or exit diff settings.

Edit: maybe MID is one.

[siskue2005]

Yes, I knew that too (although I was under the impression it came later at the year). However, point still stands that they did not modify the steering for the f-duct, atleast not until Turkey then. Watching from the video, it remained the same steering wheel.

Look closely at the video, the wheel is intact cut off at the bottom that's the first race they raced it...there are many videos and pics you just have to google it
And also they have f-duct switch repositioned to side of cockpit
And I remember scarbs or someone else confirming they cut it off for easy access of f duct switch

[turbof1]

Yes, I knew that too (although I was under the impression it came later at the year). However, point still stands that they did not modify the steering for the f-duct, atleast not until Turkey then. Watching from the video, it remained the same steering wheel.

Look closely at the video, the wheel is intact cut off at the bottom that's the first race they raced it...there are many videos and pics you just have to google it
And also they have f-duct switch repositioned to side of cockpit
And I remember scarbs or someone else confirming they cut it off for easy access of f duct switch

I am working on a small netbook screen, too difficult to notice it. I'll take it then.

[zonk]

Nico Rosberg 2012


Michael Schumacher 2012

[feynman]

I have a theory, it is Newey's liking that they kept the dash display out of the steering wheel in early 2000s
As soon as Newey moved to RBR they also moved the dash display out of steering wheel and still in 2012 it is out of the steering wheel
So I guess it was Newey who wanted it out of the wheel, mclaren just followed the trend until someone or Lewis changed it

I agree that having the display chassis-mounted was likely a Newey thing, but I also suspect there was a deliberate design choice enforced in McLaren, after Mika's crash, to try to keep the top of the wheel as clear as possible.

They ran the Mercedes foam bumper pad for years and years, and definitely tried to keep all controls at the bottom of the wheel even when there was space at the top.
Here's an MP4/12 wheel with a huge cutout at the top.


It is only in the last few years that any controls and the display have slowly migrated up to the top of the McLaren wheel ... maybe HANS has changed their minds on what the driver's helmet will or will not collide with in a high-g crash.

[Richard]

“It was drowning in buttons; all the ones I never use, I eliminated them,” he said. “Next I moved the most important ones to the top so they were more visible. At Mercedes there are 26 of them. I’ve already got rid of six."

That's odd because the layout of Hamilton's wheel this year seems identical to Schumacher and Rosberg's wheels last year. The only differences are the colours.

[MercedesAMG]

Hamilton and Rosberg will use different steering wheels in 2013:

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 31698.html (in German)

[zonk]

That's odd because the layout of Hamilton's wheel this year seems identical to Schumacher and Rosberg's wheels last year. The only differences are the colours.

Its not only colors. If you look closer the the buttons are for different things. For example Schumacher revers gear is Nico radio and Hamiltons is blanc...

[Richard]

Sorry I meant colours and labels. I can't see where Hamilton's wheel has less buttons and dials, the basic arrangement for all the Schumacher, Rosberg & Hamilton Merc wheels seems identical ie:

Central rotary
Bank of 3 rotaries on both sides
Bank of 4 buttons on left
Bank of 3 button plus an odd looking button (toggle?) on the right
Cluster of 3 buttons under each thumb.
A perpendicular rotary next to each thumb

[zonk]

Yes the layout of buttons is the same, but they are for different things. On Hamilton wheel You cant see a KERS one for example(must be on the back side) You see a DRS instead of Nico Boost. For me it looks like some are not active( lowest one on each side).