Among the sim-racing products and peripherals sold by Fanatecincludes a large collection of steering wheels of all types. The German manufacturer covers more or less all virtual motorsport disciplines, from classic 60s wheels to Formula, rally, GT and endurance steering wheels.

But it’s not just wheels and flywheels, because Fanatec also has Direct Drive bases, pedalboards and other peripherals aimed at beginners, amateurs and professionals alike. Let’s face it: the German brand has been in the game for over 20 years, and for many riders represents the Go-To, and rightly so I must say.

And as is often the case with Fanatec, the hardest part isn’t driving… it’s choosing. In this article, we review the brand’s best F1 wheels to, I hope, guide you towards the one that best suits your style. There are currently 4 Formula 1-style wheels in the catalog: 3 complete wheels and one bare wheel (without hub). Let’s take a closer look at them all, with recommendations for each.

ClubSport Steering Wheel F1 Esports V2

The ClubSport Steering Wheel F1 Esport V2 is Fanatec’s officially licensed FIA steering wheel. The design is simple, with an anodized aluminum faceplate and metal backplate. The QR2 Wheel Side is fitted to the rear of the wheel, enabling the F1 Esports V2 to be used with Fanatec’s new bases on PC and Playstation (4 and 5), depending on the base.

The grips on this steering wheel are made of Alcantara, which offers a high level of grip during F1 24 sessions. Personally, I’m not a big fan of this material, as it’s a real pain to maintain, in addition to deteriorating rapidly in contact with water. I prefer leather instead, and if you opt for this wheel, I advise you to drive with gloves to preserve it.

Let’s move on to the controls. The ClubSport F1 Esports V2 features 15 controls, including two magnetic rear paddles, buttons and joysticks. This steering wheel doesn’t feature a D-Pad, but it does offer a small OLED screen and a tri-color RevLED on the upper part of the faceplate.

Usually sold at €339.9, the ClubSport F1 Esports V2 is currently on special offer at €239.95, making it the cheapest option on this list.

ClubSport Steering Wheel Formula V2.5

Next up is another steering wheel from the ClubSport range, the Formula V2.5. All the wheels on this list are actually from the ClubSport range, which is a guarantee of quality for drivers.

The Formula V2.5 is an F1-style steering wheel, far superior in quality to the Esports V2. It features an aluminum back-plate structure and a 5mm-thick carbon-fiber faceplate, giving the wheel an attractive design, reduced weight and a premium appearance.

Apart from the Fanatec logo, there’s not much written on the wheel. The faceplate houses an OLED screen, a RevLED and 18 controls including encoders and buttons. At the rear are 2 magnetic aluminum paddles and 2 rotary switches accessible by your index finger. The Formula V2.5’s ergonomics are excellent, especially with the perforated leather handles. You won’t really need to use gloves with this steering wheel, but it’s handy to feel a greater level of immersion.

The QR2 Wheel Side is also present on the rear of the wheel, offering compatibility with PCs and Playstations (4 and 5). However, make sure you have a base that is compatible with Sony consoles before purchasing this wheel.

Speaking of buying, let’s talk about the Formula V2.5’s price. At present, it retails for €359.95. It’s a bit pricey, yes, but it’s still a quality, premium steering wheel, perfect for F1 racing. Given its popularity, the Formula V2.5 is sometimes out of stock, so be sure to visit the Fanatec store regularly to order it.

ClubSport Steering Wheel Formula V2.5 X

The ClubSport Formula V2.5 X is a slightly different version of the Formula V2.5 we’ve just seen. Instead of leather on the grips, the Formula V2.5 X uses Alcantara, and the steering wheel has swapped the white of the controls for red and Xbox button caps. The wheel is also now compatible with Microsoft consoles, provided you have the matching base, giving you a wheel that can be used on PC, Playstation and Xbox.

Another point of difference from the basic version is the RevLED. Before, it was two-tone, now it’s three-tone. It’s subtle, and it’s possible not to notice it at all in the middle of a race. Unfortunately, the steering wheel still features 2 magnetic paddles at the rear, which isn’t much for racing in motorsport’s premier discipline, especially if you’re aiming for total immersion. But there’s nothing we can do about it, and I can only hope that Fanatec will one day offer an F1 steering wheel with at least 4 paddles.

As for price, the Formula V2.5 X costs €369.95, €10 more than the non-“X” version. If you like Alcantara on the grips, red accents or your preferred platform is Microsoft (PC or Xbox), then this steering wheel is just what you need.

The ClubSport Wheel Rim Sparco Formula

Let’s finish with a bare-bone wheel. The ClubSport Sparco Formula is a steering wheel developed in partnership with the famous automotive equipment manufacturer Sparco.

The design of this wheel is quite sober, I think. The structure is in anodized aluminum, with a brushed finish. It’s beautiful, simple and minimalist. The Fanatec “F” is in the middle, with Sparco at the bottom, on the central spoke. All around, Alcantara covers the perimeter of the steering wheel, and for long sessions on F1 24, I’d advise you to bring gloves with you so as not to damage this material.

The wheel is 27 cm in diameter, with a flat bottom and an opening at the top. In the middle, 6 holes can be seen on the faceplate, and these are used to accommodate a Fanatec hub. The brand offers 2 with buttons in its catalog: the universal hub and the Xbox hub. Why is this so? Well, the steering wheel is bare-bone, so you inevitably need a hub to use it with Direct Drive bases.

Which brings us to the price of this Sparco. The wheel alone costs €159.95, and the package with the hubs is priced between €220 and €390, depending on your choice. The QR2 hub alone is the cheapest, and the Xbox the most expensive on the list. The prices I’ve mentioned include the wheel, for your information.

Which one to choose?

So, back to the initial question of this article: which F1 Fanatec steering wheel should I choose? There are 3 ways to choose from the German brand’s current range: to get started in F1, to improve your setup and to complete your steering wheel collection.

To get started in sim-racing, and F1 to be precise, I recommend ClubSport F1 Esports V2. It’s just the thing for taking your first laps around the track in a single-seater, without breaking the budget.

If you’ve got Formula experience and want to improve, then the ClubSport Formula V2.5 is for you. Between carbon fiber, compatibility with all platforms and ergonomics, you won’t find a better F1 steering wheel from Fanatec. Admittedly, they only offer 2 rear paddles, but as I’ve already said, there’s nothing we can do about that, and the solution must come from Fanatec.

And for those looking to add to their already prestigious collection of steering wheels, there’s the ClubSport Sparco Formula. You can buy it either with a button hub or bare-bone. It’s a cool wheel, perfect for old-school riding in its rim version.