We have already analyzed in detail the peculiarities of Lewis Hamilton’s new Ferrari steering wheel, but by closely examining the images, an interesting fact emerges: most of the changes adopt solutions already seen on Mercedes cars in past seasons.
Adapting to Ferrari’s steering wheel must not have been easy for Lewis Hamilton, especially considering that his previous Mercedes steering wheel was completely different in shape and concept. The German team’s steering wheel is more compact and has fewer buttons compared to Ferrari’s, which is richer in controls.
Comparison between the steering wheel of Hamilton’s Mercedes and Ferrari. – Source: f1ingenerale
Hamilton had used the same Mercedes steering wheel layout since 2014, so radically changing the configuration required a significant ability to adapt. However, the regulations allow for extensive customization of programmable buttons, enabling the driver to tailor the steering wheel to their needs.
Requesting an exact replica of the Mercedes steering wheel was impossible, but making it as similar as possible to the setup Lewis Hamilton was accustomed to was feasible. And that is exactly what happened: the new Ferrari steering wheel now features buttons and rotaries arranged in an almost identical position to those Lewis Hamilton used at Mercedes.
However, there is a key difference: unlike Mercedes, Ferrari’s steering wheel includes an additional row with three rotary switches. Lewis Hamilton had to configure these controls to his liking, adapting to a greater number of inputs than he was used to.
Of course, the driver still has to adjust to the shape of the steering wheel, which cannot be completely modified, so achieving an identical button layout is impossible. After all, adaptability should be a fundamental trait for any driver.
The modifications
By comparing it with the Mercedes steering wheel from previous seasons, it is clear that buttons and rotaries have the same height and symmetry, as highlighted by the colored guideline overlays. Some buttons that could not be placed in their exact original positions have been located as close as possible. An example is the radio button and the K1, the equivalent of Mercedes’ OT, which unlocks extra engine power.
As previously mentioned, the Mercedes steering wheel has only three rotary switches at the bottom, compared to six on the Ferrari. This allowed Hamilton to “spread out” some controls and assign one to a dedicated rotary switch.
Comparison of button layout between Hamilton’s Mercedes and Ferrari steering wheels. – Source: f1ingenerale
For example, on the Mercedes steering wheel, position 3 of the STRAT rotary switch is supposed to indicate the battery charge state (SOC); on the Ferrari steering wheel, however, the SOC has a dedicated rotary switch.
Ergonomics first
Lewis Hamilton also requested a modification to the grips on the upper part of the steering wheel, which now feature a bulge absent on Leclerc’s wheel but already seen on his Mercedes until 2024.
Some Mercedes buttons have been removed due to Ferrari-specific requirements, while others have presumably been relocated to the back of the steering wheel, which has also undergone some changes, as explained in our previous articles.
One example is the DRS button, which is positioned behind the steering wheel, in a similar location to that chosen by his teammate. Another significant change concerns the gear selector paddle, now thinner and positioned higher, just like the one Hamilton used at Mercedes.
The clutch features a single lever, operable with the right hand and equipped with two slots for finger placement, similar to the previous configuration used at Mercedes.
We have already extensively discussed the meticulous work Lewis Hamilton has put into his steering wheel, and this further comparison with the old Mercedes wheel is yet another demonstration of the obsessive attention to detail that distinguishes the world’s best drivers.
Source: f1ingenerale
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