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Buttons Explained on Sim Racing Formula Wheel

Are you wondering what all the different buttons and switches on a Formula sim racing wheel mean?

Don’t worry – we got you covered!

Our Formula Sim Racing Wheels feature a lot of customizable buttons, switches, and paddles, and in this blog post, we’ll introduce you to ten of the most common Formula wheel buttons based on their use when sim racing.

F1 sim racing wheel settings and button mapping can be complex, and if you are racing for the podium, you want to have the most appropriate controls set up on your Formula steering wheel.

DRS Button

The DRS button on the Formula steering wheel lets the driver change the angle of the rear wing. Not all cars or racing classes have features like this, and the regulations regarding it can vary.

But in practice, the driver presses the DRS button, the wing opens up, and the car’s speed skyrockets making it easier to overtake the car in front.

Differential Switch

The Differential switch controls the amount of power transmitted to each set of wheels. For example, a more open differential will allow different amounts of power and rotation speed on each wheel. A closed or locked differential will force the wheels to always turn at the same rate.

Brake Bias Switch

On the Formula wheel for sim racing, you can also find the Brake Bias, or Brake Balance, switch. This switch gives the driver power over the percentage of brake force delivered to the front and back brakes. It enables you to adjust the brake bias during the race to find the best balance for succeeding.

Overtake Button

The overtake button – or the push to pash button – gives you a temporary engine and hybrid boost in power. The overtake button gives you an advantage when overtaking or defending a position in the race.

Pit Lane Speed

The Pit Lane Speed button accommodates two aspects. Firstly, the button makes it simple for the drivers to maintain the speed limit in the pit area and therefore avoiding a penalty. There are strict racing rules to ensure all drivers maintain the same speed when driving in the pits.

Secondly, the pit lane speed button is also there for safety reasons in real racing. If there weren’t a speed limit in the pit area, it would be too dangerous to be involved in racing.

Paddles

In Formula racing, there are often more than two paddles on the steering wheel. The most common paddles in racing are the middle ones, used for up- and downshifting.

The upper paddles can be used for various shortcuts and can be set for the individual driver. Some common shortcuts are the overtake (push to pass) button or the DRS button. It depends on you and how you’d like to use the paddles on your steering wheel.

The lower paddles can also be used as different shortcuts, but in the real world, it’s used as the clutch. Though in sim racing, it’s up to you how you want to map your paddles on your sim racing wheel.

RPM Indicator Lights

This isn’t a control that you actively use when racing. The RPM indicator shows the revolutions per minute and gives you an indication of when to shift gears. On our sim racing wheels, the RPM indicator is completely customizable to suit your needs or simulate the specific car you want to drive.

Traction Control Switch

The Traction Control switch is a driving aid that controls the engine’s power to the wheels. If you accelerate too quickly or hard in bad conditions, traction control helps you by reducing the engine power to prevent the wheels from spinning.

During the race, you can adjust the traction control to find the right balance that suits the race conditions the best.

ABS Switch

ABS is short for Anti-Lock Braking System and is an additional driving aid system that prevents the wheels from locking when braking hard. During the race, you can increase and decrease the ABS. When ABS is activated, brake pressure is reduced to allow the wheels to regain grip.

Engine Map

The Engine Map can vary depending on the car, but generally, it controls settings like throttle maps and fuel injection. This, in turn, affects both how much power the engine can produce and its overall fuel consumption.

Map Your Buttons on the Formula Wheel

It is important to emphasize that all the above controls are individual choices by the driver. It is up to you to choose and map your preferred control shortcuts when racing.

Another important aspect, which is not mentioned above, is the location of the various controls. On our sim racing wheels, you can decide exactly where the various controls should be placed to suit your needs, and you can mark them on the physical wheel with the sticker sheet provided with both our sim racing wheels.

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