The world of sim-racing isn’t just about having a setup like every other racer in the world, with identical bases, steering wheels, pedals and cockpits. The very essence of this discipline is the customization of your setup, but also the fact that there are setups for every motor sport.

Many people are not comfortable behind a “standard” steering wheel for F1 22 sessions, or for big jumps on Dirt. Every motor sport has its own characteristics, including the size and shape of the steering wheel.

Over the years, engineers have changed the shape of racing car steering wheels to make them more ergonomic for drivers, and manufacturers of sim-racing peripherals have followed suit. Fans of this wonderful discipline are familiar with brands like Thrustmaster, which offer a vast catalog of products specially developed for sim-racing, and today we’re going to take a look at one of its steering wheels, the Ferrari F1. This wheel is, in fact, a single wheel with an official Ferrari license. I’m going to introduce it to you, and tell you about its strengths and weaknesses.

Main and technical features of the steering wheel

• Steering wheel compatible with PC, Xbox and Playstation
• Paddle shifters in Push-Pull configuration, enabling gear shifting with a single paddle
• Compatible with Thrustmaster T-Series bases
• Metal and plastic steering wheels
• 8 buttons and knobs distributed across the wheel

Thrustmaster Ferrari F1 design

We’ve become accustomed to fine products from Thrustmaster, and the Ferrari F1 is one of them. Logical, you might say, given that it’s an officially licensed Ferrari steering wheel from the 2011 Formula 1 season. Well, it’s a bit old, but the overall design hasn’t changed too much since then, except for the addition of features like a screen, etc.

Be that as it may, the Ferrari F1 sports a design we’re all familiar with from F1, with a fairly rectangular shape and an assortment of knobs and buttons spread across the wheel. The structure is made of metal, with plastic for some parts and rubber for the handles.

On the whole, it’s sober, with a few colored buttons and black dominating the rest. The Ferrari F1 remains an all-purpose steering wheel, which will go wonderfully well with all sim-racing setups, especially F1 ones.

Customized assembly

Since the Thrustmaster Ferrari F1 is a single wheel, this implies a fastening system, a la Fanatec‘s Quick Release, which is not very user-friendly. To swap the wheel, you have to unscrew the fastening mechanism, then rotate the wheel to remove it… And if you have another wheel and want to use the Ferrari F1, you’ll have to do this twice!

Aside from the multiple manipulations involved in changing wheels, which I find really unnecessary and above all a waste of time, the Ferrari F1 is compatible with T-Series chainstays, giving you a wide range in terms of performance and force feedback. As far as I’m concerned, this is a good thing, and opens up many new horizons in terms of driving style and feel.

As far as cockpits are concerned, this is more a question of base selection, as the base will be attached to the cockpit. However, almost all chassis available on the market are compatible with Thrustmaster bases, so no worries there. If you’re interested, I invite you to take a look at some of my cockpit reviews by clicking here..

Manufacturing and finishing

The Ferrari F1 uses metal, plastic and rubber as materials for its construction. These are noble materials that other brands use in their products, but the implementation and manufacturing quality are not up to the standards of premium brands like Fanatec. And why is that? Well, the Ferrari F1 wheel is an entry-level wheel, that’s why.

The finish is a little rough, and looks a lot like those cheap plastic steering wheels you find in supermarkets. And this feeling is accentuated by the dummy switches in the center of the wheel. I don’t know why Thrustmaster did this, but it’s really cheap on their part.

Apart from this faux pas, the rest of the steering wheel is more or less well finished, even if the feel isn’t exactly top-notch. The good thing, however, is the rear paddles. They’re metal and in Push-Pull configuration. Also, the steering wheel is pretty solid when used for sim-racing. However, I’d advise you to attach it to a base and leave it in place, as the ‘Quick Release’ system is plastic and uses a screw to secure the whole thing, and it’s likely to crack after a while.

Handling the steering wheel

Where the Ferrari F1 makes up for this is in its handling. As a 1:1 scale replica of a Ferrari steering wheel, this peripheral grips superbly well, with excellent ergonomics. Immersion is the order of the day, and you’ll immediately be teleported into the cockpit of an F1 car.

All operating buttons are within easy reach without your hands leaving the wheel, allowing you to concentrate more fully during a race. Another positive feature of the Ferrari F1 is that the paddles are very close to the wheel, in Push-Pull mode. This means you can change gears (+ and -) with just one hand.

The grips are covered with rubber, which considerably improves the grip of the steering wheel. Although the Ferrari F1 is an entry-level product, this material feels better than the one on the Ferrari SF1000 ( which you can discover by clicking here), for example, where you need gloves to drive for any length of time.

Sensations during play

The good thing about Thrustmaster steering wheels is that they provide excellent in-game sensations, and this is exactly the case with the Ferrari F1, even if in real life the sensations come mainly from the base.

As an officially licensed Formula 1 steering wheel, this peripheral offers a big plus over the competition, and that’s immersion. As soon as you grip it, you immediately feel like you’re in the cockpit of an F1 car, and this sensation is accentuated by the various switches and buttons found all over the steering wheel.

All controls are easily accessible, highlighting the Ferrari F1‘s excellent ergonomics. It has to be said that Thrustmaster engineers have worked very hard on this quality peripheral. What’s more, the steering wheel is the perfect size, given that it’s a scale replica of an F1 wheel, so it really helps with ergonomics and feel.

Another positive point in terms of feel is the paddles in Push-Pull configuration. It’s a real pleasure to be able to use such paddles to shift gears, especially with just one hand. With a good Thrustmaster base, you’ll be pushing realism to the limit, blurring the boundary between reality and video games.

Thrustmaster Ferrari F1 compatibility

The Thrustmaster Ferrari F1 is a steering wheel that works perfectly with all the platforms available on the market, namely Playstation, Xbox and PC. The only limiting factor is the choice of bases with which it is compatible.

Thrustmaster has announced full compatibility with T-Series bases, which in itself is not bad at all. This range is pretty broad, covering both entry-level and mid-range, with pretty powerful force feedback. And if you want some basic recommendations, this is the place to go..

Value for money

At €189.99 on the official website (and €149 on Amazon), the Thrustmaster Ferrari F1 is an entry-level Formula 1 wheel for those looking to treat themselves without breaking the budget. Its value for money is pretty good in the sense that you don’t really have any other alternatives in this price range from Thrustmaster.

What’s more, if you’re an F1 fan, this steering wheel is a must-have peripheral in your sim-racing arsenal. At least, that’s what I think.

My verdict on the Ferrari F1 from Thrustmaster

Even if the Thrustmaster Ferrari F1 has its little flaws, such as the dummy switches in the center, it’s still a good F1 steering wheel at a reasonable price, especially for fans of the sport. Its ergonomics are very good, and I really enjoyed my time with it.

It’s true that the mounting system isn’t the easiest to use, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that the Thrustmaster Ferrari F1 is often on special offer for less than €150. In any case, I approve of this steering wheel. But if you’re not convinced, you can take a look at the 6 Best Steering Wheels for Sim Racing in 2025.