As F1 fans, we have all seen that vast array of buttons and toggles on a car’s steering wheel. We always wonder what all those buttons do and how often the drivers have to use them. Lewis Hamilton explained the settings on his steering wheel, how often he uses them, and the dire consequences if some settings are not used judiciously.

Since the start of F1 motor racing, cars have come a long way in terms of modernization. With the progression of the engines, the aerodynamics, and the sensors, steering wheels have come a long way as well. The modern F1 steering wheel is no longer used for just turning the car.

Lewis Hamilton explains different functions he carries out while racing at the highest speeds

Lewis Hamilton appeared for an interview on In Depth with Graham Bensinger in 2016. The Mercedes champion, in a section of the interview, gave a tour of the complex settings on his steering wheel.

Talking about how often he used most settings, he explained, “Every lap. You’re moving, this is like a bright migration, which, you’re never going to understand that. Then this is a brake balance, so the percentage of balance you have on the front and the rear. So you moving that from corner to corner. And then we have engine braking, we have high-speed diff, diff mid, diff entry. Diff exit is in here in the multiple switch. Then there’s all these different things, you have radio.”

Hamilton told about different sensors in the car, including the engine and the exhaust sensor. “For example, if one fails because it gets too hot, it could lead to fuel mixture being wrong, the engine blows up. So, you’ll have to turn that off,” he added.

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Lewis also explained how there are different settings to manage fuel consumption and power management. It all left us shocked how the drivers manage all of that while doing speeds as high as 220 mph.

Lewis Hamilton is proud of how he designed his own steering wheel

While each modern F1 car has almost all the functions on the steering wheel, the placement of each button and toggle depends on drivers’ individual preferences. In a recent interview with CNA Luxury, Hamilton talked about designing his own steering wheel during his time at McLaren and carrying it forward to Mercedes. He also told how the other teams copied his design.

“What a lot of people don’t actually know is that I re-designed the steering wheel when I was at McLaren,” Hamilton told. “And when I came to Mercedes, I did the same thing, and the other teams have all copied the wheel.”

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While the thought of driving an F1 car with the insane amount of G-force already made us think it was a hard sport to engage in, the dexterity required to manage the steering wheel has only increased our respect for the drivers.