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Interesting that there is a supply chain for these parts, i.e. McLaren sell instrumentation goodies to their rivals. Volume levels cannot be that high, even if

Interesting that there is a supply chain for these parts, i.e. McLaren sell instrumentation goodies to their rivals. Volume levels cannot be that high, even if the margins are good. Why don't they keep things to themselves? With the steering wheel moving it looks like digital rather than an analogue style gauge is how information gets best presented as far as speed is concerned. Note that when Lewis Hamilton moved to Mercedes he got the engineers to strip back the 30+ knobs and buttons to be something more like what you might find on a consumer steering wheel for an F1 game. Hence I don't think the featured steering wheel is optimal or likely to be the best.

dan1234 13y ago
Some of it has to do with controlling costs. The FIA contract out some of the more common technology (which is so tightly controlled that there's no room for real innovation) so that teams can spend their budgets on increasing performance. One example is that McLaren provide a common ECU to all teams[0] [0]http://www.mclarenelectronics.com/Systems/CaseStudy/Formula%20One http://www.mclarenelectronics.com/Systems/CaseStudy/Formula%...
pedrocr 13y ago
>Note that when Lewis Hamilton moved to Mercedes he got the engineers to strip back the 30+ knobs and buttons to be something more like what you might find on a consumer steering wheel for an F1 game. Apparently he removed 4 knobs, from 31 to 27, so not very significant. He also has a supposedly useless red X button by his left thumb. My theory is that it's the "x-factor" button that he pushes when he's really trying. Sort of like when Valentino Rossi starts hanging his leg out in the corners when he's trying to go really fast, apparently useless for balance under breaking but probably helps mentally. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/lewis-hamilton-makes-mercedes-reduce-1706059 http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/lewis-hamilton-makes...
- hvidgaard 13y ago
  The "X button" could be a button to help him react properly. I know he is a world class driver, but when something unforeseen happens, all people react instinctively, rather than consciously. A way to combat this is to train a movement, like slamming the foot in the footrest, or pressing a button. It buys you that fraction of a second to assess the situation and act consciously, rather than just react.
gsnedders 13y ago
It's considered part of the standardized ECU, provided by Microsoft, subcontracted to McLaren Electronic Systems. Different drivers have different preferences — at the top of the grid, it's not that unusual (at least historically, I don't know about this year off-hand) for the two drivers to have different wheels.
- CHY872 13y ago
  Yes - I remember that Jacque Villeneuve had a special steering wheel with which he could shift gears with one hand.

dan1234 13y ago

Some of it has to do with controlling costs. The FIA contract out some of the more common technology (which is so tightly controlled that there's no room for real innovation) so that teams can spend their budgets on increasing performance. One example is that McLaren provide a common ECU to all teams[0] [0]http://www.mclarenelectronics.com/Systems/CaseStudy/Formula%20One http://www.mclarenelectronics.com/Systems/CaseStudy/Formula%...

pedrocr 13y ago

>Note that when Lewis Hamilton moved to Mercedes he got the engineers to strip back the 30+ knobs and buttons to be something more like what you might find on a consumer steering wheel for an F1 game. Apparently he removed 4 knobs, from 31 to 27, so not very significant. He also has a supposedly useless red X button by his left thumb. My theory is that it's the "x-factor" button that he pushes when he's really trying. Sort of like when Valentino Rossi starts hanging his leg out in the corners when he's trying to go really fast, apparently useless for balance under breaking but probably helps mentally. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/lewis-hamilton-makes-mercedes-reduce-1706059 http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/lewis-hamilton-makes...

hvidgaard 13y ago
The "X button" could be a button to help him react properly. I know he is a world class driver, but when something unforeseen happens, all people react instinctively, rather than consciously. A way to combat this is to train a movement, like slamming the foot in the footrest, or pressing a button. It buys you that fraction of a second to assess the situation and act consciously, rather than just react.

gsnedders 13y ago

It's considered part of the standardized ECU, provided by Microsoft, subcontracted to McLaren Electronic Systems. Different drivers have different preferences — at the top of the grid, it's not that unusual (at least historically, I don't know about this year off-hand) for the two drivers to have different wheels.

CHY872 13y ago
Yes - I remember that Jacque Villeneuve had a special steering wheel with which he could shift gears with one hand.