Today, sim-racing is more than just acquiring dedicated peripherals and breaking lap times at Monza. Sim-racing is a passion, a story of sensations, a quest for realism. There’s a difference between an average gamer and a sim-racer, and it shows in the titles and peripherals.

With the wide range of products on the market today, sim-racing is certainly easy, but choosing the right setup is just as difficult. Between steering wheels, bases, pedalboards and shifters, you’ll find yourself lost in no time, and if you choose the wrong peripheral, the experience will be totally diluted.

F1 remains the pinnacle of motor sports, and the same applies to sim-racing. In what follows, I’m going to present you with a list of the best F1 steering wheels available on the market. I’ll divide this list into 3 categories: entry-level, mid-range and top-of-the-range.

The best F1 steering wheels at a glance

The best entry-level F1 steering wheels (under €300)

The Thrustmaster Ferrari F1 Wheel AddOn

Advantages :

• Ferrari F1 licensed steering wheel
• Compatible with all Thrustmaster bases
• Use of metal for the structure
• Affordable price

Disadvantages :

• Cheap finish, with some dummy switches

We start with a popular yet affordable product, the Thrustmaster Ferrari F1. This wheel is sold on its own, but is compatible with all the manufacturer’s bases. In terms of design, this wheel is largely inspired by Ferrari wheels, for which it is officially licensed.

The structure is metal, with rubber on the handles. This material is correct and you won’t necessarily need gloves to use it, as is the case with its big brother, the Ferrari SF1000 (which you can discover here). This steering wheel, the Ferrari F1, is sturdy, has an in-house QR and a flurry of buttons/switches, some of them dummy in the center.

The grip is pretty good for a steering wheel costing just €150. The metal paddles on the back work in push-pull configuration. All buttons and switches are accessible without your hands leaving the wheel, and their layout is well thought-out. All in all, it’s a good, inexpensive sim-racing peripheral that will do just fine for a budget-friendly setup. Another plus point is that the Ferrari F1 is compatible with all Thrustmaster bases. If you’d like to know a little more about this wheel, then I’ll let you discover my opinion on the subject by clicking here.

The Fanatec Clubsport F1 Esport V2

Advantages :

• Good build quality
• Compatible with the entire Fanatec ecosystem
• Good quality materials
• RevLED and OLED display

Disadvantages :

• Quite limited in terms of controls

Fanatec is a major player in the sim-racing industry, and its Clubsport F1 Esport V2 represents the entry-level of single-seater steering wheels. The design of this steering wheel is a bit flashy, with yellow, red and blue button circles. Although I’m not a big fan of flashy colors, it’s still a good-looking wheel.

The frame is in aluminum and the handles in alcantara. In terms of materials, we’re well served, Fanatec style. The shape of the steering wheel is largely inspired by the wheels found on single-seaters. It’s not quite the same design as the new F1 steering wheels, but it does the trick.

In terms of controls, or knobs if you like, there aren’t many. There are switches and 11 buttons in all, with aluminum paddles at the rear. It’s very well finished, as usual from Fanatec. In the center of the Clubsport F1 Esport V2, there’s a small OLED screen, with a RevLED just above it. This is very handy for “on the fly” info on engine speed and gear engaged.

Also, the Clubsport F1 Esport V2 is equipped with Fanatec’s metal QR1, and it’s pure bliss. This system enables it to attach securely to all the German manufacturer’s bases. The grip is excellent. The paddles are very close to your fingers, as are the buttons. The alcantara is well-made, as is the entire steering wheel. For €270, this is an excellent sim-racing peripheral that I’d recommend.

The best mid-range steering wheels (under €400)

The Thrustmaster Ferrari SF1000

Advantages :

• Official F1 Ferrari license
• Large center screen with RevLED
• Good quality materials
• 4 aluminum pallets

Disadvantages :

• Some commands are PC-only
• Difficult to handle without gloves

The Thrustmaster Ferrari SF1000 is an F1-type steering wheel that’s pretty high up in the manufacturer’s range, even if it does end up in that position on this list. But faced with the competition I’m going to present next, it’s clear that Thrustmaster still has some way to go.

Anyway, the Ferrari SF1000 is made with 3 cm thick carbon fiber and rubber on the grips. For its price (€330), I’d have preferred alcantara, but the budget went into carbon fiber, so it’s okay. Speaking of rubber, you should know that this material will quickly become uncomfortable if you don’t use gloves during your sim-racing sessions, especially the longer ones. For a quick run, it’s fine. But for runs of over 30 minutes, it’s not okay at all.

In terms of design, the Ferrari SF1000 is an official replica of a Ferrari steering wheel. You’ve got a large screen in the center, 25 buttons and switches, plus 4 metal paddles. It’s very well laid out, with excellent ergonomics.

The Ferrari SF1000 is rather difficult to handle, especially for amateurs and beginners. But pros will have no problem with it. This steering wheel has a rather old and not at all “user friendly” QR: you have to take out the screwdriver every time you change the wheel.

All in all, the Ferrari SF1000 remains a good choice for F1, especially if you’re already in the Thrustmaster ecosystem. Couple it with a good base, and you’re all set.

If this summary has made your mouth water and you’d like to find out a little more about this steering wheel, then I invite you to read my full review of the Ferrari SF1000 steering wheel right here.

The Fanatec Racing Wheel Formula V2.5

Advantages :

• Premium materials
• Compatible with all platforms
• Good grip

Disadvantages :

• Hardly any

Fanatec is a major player in sim-racing, and its steering wheel Formula V2.5 wheel. This wheel is made from carbon fiber and alcantara, which already earns it the premium badge as far as I’m concerned. Its shape is largely inspired by the steering wheels used in F1 and other leading motorsport disciplines.

It features a small OLED screen, a RevLED, 11 buttons, switches and 2 paddles. For a mid-range wheel, it’s decent, and you can add accessories from the Fanatec catalog like a hub, 4 paddles, etc. The Formula V2.5 ‘s QR is made of metal, and it’s a great relief to see this, as we all know that Fanatec’s QR1 Lite doesn’t really live up to the brand’s reputation.

Getting to grips with Formula V2.5 is pretty good, even if you’re a sim-racing beginner. The finish is simply top-notch, as is the price. Priced at just under €400, the Formula V2.5 is still a premium steering wheel, but one that will suit all F1 fan racers.

Click here to find out more about the Fanatec Formula V2.5.

The best high-end steering wheels (over €500)

The Fanatec Clubsport F1

Advantages :

• Complete bundle with steering wheel and 15 nm Direct Drive base
• Premium finish and build quality
• Excellent ergonomics

Disadvantages :

• Difficult to get to grips with for beginners
• Compatible only with PC and Playstation

In this category, the top of the range, I am going to present a bundle that I consider to be the best: the Fanatec Clubsport F1. As the name suggests, this bundle specializes in F1, and the experience is delightful.

In terms of design, the shape is largely inspired by single-seater steering wheels, with a blue forged carbon structure. This choice of materials combines solidity, lightness and good looks, and I must say that this steering wheel is magnificent.

On the bundle, you have the wheel, and the 15 nm Podium DD+ base, which is just powerful and very communicative on the car’s behavior.

Let’s finish with the disadvantages of the Fanatec Clubsport F1. First of all, this steering wheel is hard to get used to, especially for beginners. You’ll need some time to get used to it. What’s more, this bundle is only compatible with Playstation or PC. The other drawback is the price. Since you’re getting a base + steering wheel bundle, Fanatec is selling this gem for around €1,300.