Expert: Adam - 4/4/2006

Question
About how much does a modern day F1 steering wheel cost? Why do the drivers take the steering wheel after they crash the car, is it to get out of the car, or is it because the steering wheel costs so much?

Answer
Hello Stephen, thanks for the question.

A basic, off the shelf (naked) F1 steering wheel costs about £100. What then happens is that each team customises it with an array of buttons, dials and displays linked to the car's control and monitoring such as brake bias, driver water bottle, speed limiter for pit stops etc. Each customised F1 steering wheel is expensive only because there aren't many of them and each is hand made for the particular F1 car. If one were to be available, for example at auction, prices over £5k are not unknown.

There is also a certain amount of secrecy involved, with teams not wanting the other teams to know exactly what functions are being managed/monitored from the SW or how.


When the drivers leave the car they take the SW off only to physically help them get out of the care. They have to put it back on again so that marshals can move the car if necessary.