F1 Tech Meets Sim Racing
Created together by the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team and Sim-Lab
With a life-long passion for Formula 1, engineer Richard Schouteren first started sim racing over 25 years ago. His enthusiasm for motorsport and online competition led him to build his own cockpit — and a hobby soon turned into a full-time occupation. In 2015, Schouteren founded Sim-Lab, which specializes in manufacturing high-quality, sim-related hardware.
The Sim-Lab P1-X cockpit has become the industry benchmark thanks to the Dutch firm’s precision craftsmanship and in-house engineering. With the rise in popularity of Esports, Sim-Lab began building hardware for professional teams and drivers, including the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Esports Team. Since 2020, the company has supplied cockpits to its state-of-the-art Brackley Esports training HQ.
Over the past ten months, the partnership has expanded to replicate a Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team steering wheel to provide the ultimate immersive experience for sim racers. Using CAD data, exclusively licensed in partnership with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, this steering wheel is identical in dimension to the one piloted by Lewis Hamilton and George Russell to race victories in the Mercedes-AMG F1 W15 E PERFORMANCE.
The world at your fingertips
The innovative world of Formula 1, in combination with advances in electronics, has accelerated the development of steering wheels to an extraordinary level of sophistication. No longer simply a tool for turning left or right, a modern wheel enables drivers to perform a series of functions that can enhance the performance of the car and provide a range of critical data. For the first time, racers are now able to experience this cutting-edge technology thanks to the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team Sim Racing Steering Wheel (2024) produced by Sim-Lab engineers for the simulator.
In addition to the clutch and gear-shift paddles on the rear, the wheel features 14 buttons and nine rotary switches that can be deployed for over 130 different functions. These include primary tasks such as engaging the Pit Lane speed limiter, opening and closing the Drag Reduction System (DRS), radio communications — via the button featuring the WhatsApp decal — or placing the car into neutral. There are also more complex assignments that are related to performance, such as modifying the brake balance, altering engine maps, deploying battery energy, or adjusting the differential.
“We prioritize the most important functions at the top of the wheel, which are easily accessible with the thumb,” says Chris Nelson, Trackside Control Systems Engineer of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. “It means our drivers can keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.”
The LEDs and LCD screen at the center of the steering wheel also provide critical information which can be tailored for each driver’s individual requirements. From primary data such as DRS activation, gear indicator, car speed, and sector times, the dash also displays detailed stats including tire and brake temperatures or the gap between a rival on-track.
Creating an Authentic Design
Through the exclusive sharing of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team CAD data, the engineers at Sim-Lab were able to faithfully reproduce the design of the steering wheel with 100 percent dimensional accuracy. They have used the same complex technique of layering carbon fiber to provide strength while keeping the wheel lightweight. For added authenticity, there is also a matching brand of rotary switches.
“In recreating the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team Sim Racing Steering Wheel (2024), I had to understand the engineering philosophy behind its design,” says Lee Smallman, Head of Engineering at Sim-Lab. “The biggest challenge was to keep it accurate, not only in look and feel, but in functionality too.”
With a meticulous engineering process to achieve a near-perfect carbon copy, Sim-Lab was afforded a small amount of design freedom, as they were not constrained by the standardized electronics mandated in Formula 1 by the FIA.
“We used a very thin LCD display, rather than the unit required by the regulations,” adds Smallman. “While the screen displays exactly the same information supplied by the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, the smaller size gave us an opportunity to rearrange some of the internal components. Instead of the rotary switches being inside the grip handles, they are now behind the screen which aids accessibility if needed. “
"Through spring stiffness and magnets, we also ensured the gear and clutch paddles provide the same amount of pressure and tactile feedback as the real thing, as well as optimizing their sound and resonance by using a combination of rubbers. The whole process has resulted in a product that is as close to the F1 wheel as you will ever get.”
Sim racing driving perfection
Thanks to the partnership between the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team and Sim-Lab, racers can now experience the precise feel and functionality of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team steering wheel to enhance their performance when competing in the virtual world — either in standalone races or during esports competitions.
“When I held the wheel for the first time, I was amazed by its similarity to the F1 wheel,” says Richard Schouteren, CEO of Sim-Lab. “With its intricate details and ergonomic comfort, it’s also completely intuitive. When I started using this wheel on the sim, it felt natural in my hands. Throughout this project, we’ve realized that designing a steering wheel is not a trivial matter, it’s been incredible to understand how much thought has been put into the design.”
As in the real world, the function of the buttons or the LCD screen data on the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team Sim Racing Steering Wheel (2024) can be tailored to a driver’s individual preferences to provide them with the most immersive driving experience and enhance their performance on the simulator.
“This has to be one of the most accurate and true-to-form versions in sim racing, because it has been especially designed to compete and win at the highest level of motorsport,” adds Schouteren. “I’m extremely proud that I’ve been able to partner with some of the best engineers in the world at the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team to create this incredible steering wheel for sim racing.”