There are plenty of sim-racing cockpits on the market, with equipment for every motorsport discipline. There are cockpits for GT and endurance setups, Formula, and everything in between.

Many players share the chassis segment, with brands that have been present in the industry since the beginning of sim-racing in the late 90s. This is the case of Playseat, for example, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of simulation cockpits in general.

Several other brands are active in this segment, each with its own speciality. Among them, let’s focus today on a very special type: F1 chassis.

The best F1 chassis

When it comes to F1 chassis, there’s a wide range on offer, with products of excellent quality, perfectly suited to racing in motorsport’s premier event. The following list actually includes 5 pieces of equipment, including 3 from the same brand, which I’ve grouped together in a single entry.

The Fanatec ClubSport GT Cockpit

Fanatec is a brand that really needs no introduction. It has been present on the sim-racing market for over 20 years, and its catalog covers literally every motorsport discipline when it comes to steering wheels.

As for cockpits, the German brand offers 2 in its catalog: the CSL Cockpit and the ClubSport GT Cockpit. The one we’re interested in is the latter, as it has been developed for GT racing with a good level of customization to make it viable for F1.

The GT Cockpit is a tubular chassis originally developed by Corsair, and found its way to Fanatec after its takeover by the US gaming giant. It’s based on a tubular structure, with a high level of customization and tuning to suit all virtual pilots.

It offers brackets for Direct Drive chainstays, monitor, pedals, as well as others for shifter and handbrake, keyboard and so on. The design is modern and minimalist, with a choice of two colors: black or white.

The seat is on a slide, and can be adjusted to find the right driving position, as can the pedals. The great thing about the GT Cockpit is that it has been designed to accommodate all the peripherals needed for sim-racing. This means it integrates a monitor support (max 49″ in ultra-wide), a PC or console support, and pass-throughs to manage cabling.

Now let’s talk price. The GT cockpit is priced at €915, but bare-bones. That means you only get the chassis for that price, and you’ll need to add a bucket if you want to race. Fanatec offers one for €340, including a monitor mount.

Playseat Formulas

Playseat is a European brand, Dutch to be precise, which has been active in the sim-racing industry for over 25 years. It is the official partner of Logitech, F1, Nascar, RedBull, Alpine and many others. The major motorsport teams often call on Playseat’s services for their simulation set-ups.

For its F1 range, Playseat offers racers 3 products. The first is the Formula Instinct, a chassis designed for beginners on a budget. It is based on a tubular structure, with a rear-tilted bucket, a base support and a crankset support.

The Formula Instinct is available in a single color (black and white), and at a very attractive price. For €599, you get everything: chassis and bucket, and the brand’s catalog of accessories is very attractive.

Let’s move on to the Playseat Formula, a minimalist chassis in terms of design, but very popular with the running community. This time, the seat is even lower, with a support, or upright, for the base that sits between your legs. Some prefer this, others don’t. It’s a subjective element as far as I’m concerned, as it doesn’t really get in the way because the frame is completely open.

The Formula retails for €999, also in a single color: black. It’s an immersive cockpit, offering good solidity to accommodate DD bases coming out of medium torque.

Given that Playseat is the partner of F1, RedBull and Alpine, it would be inconceivable not to offer a product aimed at professional drivers. Say hello to Formula Intelligence, the best Playseat has to offer virtual racers.

It’s a tubular chassis, straight out of a Formula 1 cockpit. It’s beautiful, adaptable to racers (as long as they stay in F1) and ultra solid. Even equipped with the most powerful underpinnings on the market, Formula Intelligence won’t plug in, sticking to its guns.

Given that it’s a cockpit made in partnership with F1, you’re thinking that it comes at a price. Hold on to your hats: €2,499 to get it, and in three different colors, including one with the F1 logo on the sides.

Trak Racer Alpine

Trak Racer is an Australian brand that has been active in the chassis business for a long time.

For our list of F1 cockpits, the Alpine is THE product from this brand. It’s a tubular chassis in the colors of the Alpine F1 team, but it doesn’t stop there. The two companies, Alpine and Trak Racer, collaborated to develop this chassis, which aims for a very high level of immersion.

As previously mentioned, the Alpine is a tubular cockpit whose design is similar to the cage-like arches of racing cars. In addition to satisfying the F1 driving position, the Alpine is a hybrid chassis, capable of adapting to several motorsport disciplines.

You’ve got an angle-adjustable bucket seat, as well as a pedal bracket that tilts for an F1-style riding position. For the base deck, several options are available, depending on your ecosystem. Just pay attention to the base support when making your purchase.

Speaking of buying, let’s talk price. Like Fanatec’s GT Cockpit, the Trak Racer Alpine is a bare-bones chassis sold at €999, i.e. without bucket seats or other accessories. The brand offers two seats in its catalog for €400, as well as a choice of DD base, pedal and steering wheel bundles. For the latter, you have Moza and Simucube.

Which one to choose?

The choice of chassis depends mainly on your involvement in sim-racing, the disciplines you race and your budget. If you’re more of a jack-of-all-trades, it’s a good idea to opt for hybrid equipment, such as the Fanatec GT Cockpit or the Trak Racer Alpine. These two chassis offer a more varied driving experience, with a high level of immersion.

However, there’s a financial point to bear in mind when choosing a chassis. Depending on the options you choose, the price can skyrocket. In any case, I hope this article will help you make your choice!