More and more sim racers are turning their attention to setups specific to a single racing discipline, such as F1 or GT3. These setups generally consist of a fairly powerful base, a high-quality pedal unit and a steering wheel adapted to the discipline, often in official replica form.

Fanatec has been doing this for some time on its entire product range, from CSLs to Podium shuttlecocks. To tell the truth, it’s quite successful, especially if you choose the right base with the steering wheel you want. As for other brands, we have Thrustmaster , which has also got into the act with one of its steering wheels, the SF1000.

Car fans will immediately notice that this name is linked to Ferrari, and it is. The SF1000 is an official Ferrari F1 replica steering wheel for the 2020-2021 season, and I’m going to introduce it to you in what follows.

Main and technical features of the steering wheel

• 28 cm diameter wheel
• Official Ferrari F1 replica steering wheel
• 4.3” OLED screen
• RevLED for rev counter
• Use of carbon fiber for the steering wheel structure
• 25 buttons in total
• 4 aluminum vanes in total, including 2 analogs, with Push-Pull function
• Compatible with PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
• USB-C and Wi-Fi connectivity

Thrustmaster SF1000 design

Even if the design of a steering wheel is often a subjective element, the Thrustmaster SF1000 still looks good, with its genuine carbon fiber center. The manufacturer used 21 layers over a thickness of 3 cm to build the wheel structure, and it’s magnificent. In my opinion, it’s on a par with pre-mium sim-racing manufacturers like Fanatec or Simucube.

The SF1000 is officially licensed by Ferrari, and features the same design as the steering wheels used on Ferrari single-seaters. The grips are covered with a well-made rubber coating that looks set to last for many years.

Behind the steering wheel, you’ll find 4 paddles in Push-Pull configuration, also in aluminum. They’re beautiful and, above all, fall under your fingers without too much trouble. All in all, this steering wheel is just gorgeous, especially if you’re a Ferrari and F1 fan.

Customized assembly

The Thrustmaster SF1000 is a steering wheel that doesn’t come fully assembled, since you have to assemble the rear paddles yourself, as well as the QR. And it’s in this phase that you start to notice the differences between Thrustmaster and Fanatec, for example.

The steering wheel can be used with all Thrustmaster T-series bases, so you have a wide range of choices. Except where it gets tricky is with the QR. In fact, it’s not really a QR at all, since you have to take out the screwdriver to attach the steering wheel to the base. As a result, you won’t have the pleasure, or the ease for that matter, of swapping wheels, which is a real shame in 2023 for a steering wheel released in 2021.

Then, as I said earlier, the paddles are not attached to the steering wheel. You still need to get out the screwdriver to attach them to the rear using 4 screws. This can be a time-consuming operation, and you’d better not get the order wrong, or the paddles won’t work properly. Here’s a quick guide to attaching the screws: top right then left, bottom left then right.

Manufacturing and finishing

Thrustmaster really messed up by delivering the wheel not fully assembled, but still made up for it in build quality. The SF1000 is a near-perfect wheel in terms of finish when used bare-handed, and perfect with gloves.

Since the structure is made of carbon fiber, it’s a super-smooth one-piece unit. All you have are the knobs and handles, and also the paddles. Overall, it’s perfect. The buttons click nicely, the grips feel good, and so do the paddles.

However, the manufacturer urges you to wear gloves for your sim-racing sessions, as the SF1000 can be a hair uncomfortable when riding barehanded. At least, on sessions lasting a few hours. Otherwise, on fast runs, it’s perfect.

Handling the steering wheel

Another area in which the Thrustmaster SF1000 shines is its grip. Given that this is an official Ferrari replica steering wheel, it has to be said that its grip is excellent. Your hands are naturally well placed on this steering wheel, able to reach all the buttons, switches and paddles effortlessly. That’s what F1 is all about: keeping your hands on the wheel while doing whatever it takes to win.

Between shifting gears, changing modes, fine-tuning the TC or clutch settings, changing the screen display, it’s all done quickly and without a hitch on the Thrustmaster SF1000. However, I strongly advise you to wear gloves during long sim-racing sessions, as without them, the steering wheel can quickly become uncomfortable.

I don’t know if it’s a machining flaw or if it’s intentional, but the paddles, like the handles, aren’t superbly well finished, which can lead to discomfort over time. Honestly, I didn’t really like this point, and it’s especially here that we can see that the competition, Fanatec among others, is well ahead of us in this steering wheel segment. After all, Thrustmaster also sells T-Chrono Paddles, and they’re compatible with this steering wheel. So…

Sensations during play

Now it’s time for the real thing: in-game sensations. After just a few minutes with the Thrustmaster SF1000, you quickly get your bearings, and that’s when the official Ferrari license really comes into its own. If you’re looking for the perfect description of the sensations of this steering wheel in a single word, it’s immersive. Everything is almost perfect in some cases, and perfect in others.

The steering wheel is light, thanks in particular to the massive use of carbon fiber. Its kilo or so is not at all noticeable in the hand, and this adds to the feel, as the base engine is less stressed by the mass of this steering wheel, and will therefore reach its limits much later.

All the buttons and switches fall beautifully to the fingertips, adding to the immersion and realism. To tell the truth, this is an officially licensed Ferrari steering wheel, so I’d have been surprised if it hadn’t been.

However, the paddles are a bit ric-rac due to their finish, which forces you to always use gloves for long sim-racing sessions. And the same goes for the grips, which weren’t really unpleasant, but much more comfortable with gloves. At the same time, this steering wheel is aimed at professional sim-racers looking for the ultimate in realism.

Thrustmaster SF1000 compatibility

As a recent development, this steering wheel is compatible with all platforms available on the market, namely Playstation, Xbox and PC. Just remember to buy a Thrustmaster T-series base, as the SF1000 is only compatible with these.

Value for money

For €399.99 on the manufacturer’s website, the Thrustmaster SF1000 remains an excellent high-end steering wheel. With its exceptional finish, carbon fiber and official Ferrari license, it’s hard to beat in this price bracket. Admittedly, there are a few flaws here and there, but overall it’s still exceptional.

However, it is sometimes difficult to acquire this steering wheel at the manufacturer’s recommended price, as the SF1000 is often out of stock on the Thrustmaster website, and you can easily find it for €550, and even more, at other retailers. But as always, you can also order the Thrustmaster SF1000 on the Amazon site, for as little as €330..

My verdict on the Thrustmaster SF1000

I’m a fan of Thrustmaster‘s products, and the SF1000 remains an excellent high-end steering wheel that rivals the big names in sim-racing such as Fanatec and Simucube. The carbon fiber provides an excellent, premium feel, which is a welcome change from other Thrustmaster products.

I highly recommend this steering wheel for sim-racers, and mainly amateurs/pros who evolve in the Thrustmaster ecosystem, but only at a reasonable price in the €450 or even €500 range. If you find it more expensive than that, I’d advise you to think twice and weigh up the pros and cons before taking the plunge. And if you really want to invest in the best, then I invite you to read my review of the 6 Best Steering Wheels for Sim Racing in 2025.