Lewis Hamilton has revised the layout of his Formula 1 steering wheel at Ferrari- with changed keyboard arrangements as well as adjustments to clutch and gearbox rockers, which preserve a familiar feeling from his long time at Mercedes.
These changes are part of Hamilton’s acclimatization at Scuderia before the Formula 1 season 2025. The Italian team is working intensively to facilitate the switch to its new systems.
For the first time in his 19-year Formula 1 career, Hamilton will not compete with a Mercedes-driven car. Since the beginning of the Turbo Hybrid era 2014, the engine tuning has been closer than ever with the steering wheel systems.
When he switched to Mercedes in 2013, he found the existing steering wheel design “far too complex” and had it redesigned. In 2014, at the beginning of his successful title era, he then introduced a different design.
Now he has also made adjustments to Ferrari – especially on the back of the steering wheel. The front view, on the other hand, remains largely identical to that of its new teammate Charles Leclerc.
The Ferrari was also often rebuilt for Vettel
Ferrari has always taken into account the wishes of his drivers in the past when it came to adapting the steering wheel shape or software. Especially while Sebastian Vettel’s time at Ferrari between 2015 and 2020 there were numerous changes according to his ideas.
The steering wheel, which Hamilton and Leclerc 2025 use at Ferrari, is based on a design that was originally developed according to Vettel’s requirements.
For Hamilton, however, the key arrangement as well as the switching and clutch pedals were changed in order to offer it the best possible comfort without having to get rid of fundamental control habits from his time at Mercedes.
If you look at Hamilton’s steering wheel from behind, there are clear differences to Leclerc’s version. Many of these changes come from Hamilton’s Mercedes time. It is not uncommon for drivers to maintain certain characteristics of their former steering wheels, as this makes it easier to operate at high speeds due to muscle memory.
Bobbing and clutch lever adapted
For example, the shift paddock design for Hamilton was fundamentally revised. The new rockers are thinner, higher and are strongly reminiscent of the design that Hamilton preferred at Mercedes. In addition, the outer edge was coated with a different material to improve the grip.
Leclerc, on the other hand, retains his usual layout, which he has been using since his 2019 Ferrari debut. His rockers are larger and lower – they are almost completely behind the steering wheel spokes.
Hamilton has been using a single rocker for clutch actuation at Mercedes since 2019, and it has now taken over this system at Ferrari. However, his version of Leclercs differs not only in the form of the finger shelf, but also on the pedal itself.
Hamilton’s clutch lever is very similar to those he had at Mercedes. In addition, his finger shelf was individually adjusted using 3D printing in order to meet his requirements.
The changes to the clutch and switching rocker are the most striking hardware modifications. There are no physical differences to Leclercs version on the front of the steering wheel – but it does when arranging buttons and rotary controls.
Apparently, Hamilton also tried to take over elements from his Mercedes steering wheel in order to maintain familiar muscle memory processes.
Positioning that no Ferrari driver has used since 2015
This could be due to the fact that Ferrari’s engine control pursues a completely different philosophy than Mercedes. The lower rotary controls are particularly different: Ferrari relies on six rotary controls, while Mercedes uses three combined controllers with several submenus to enable faster navigation.
In the upper area, Hamilton moved the “Charge” button to the upper left corner-right next to the button for the submenus (10) and the neutral gang button.
Below the “Charge” button is the DRS button, which Hamilton also had in a similar place at Mercedes.
On the right side, the “Pit Confirm” button (to confirm a pit stop), another navigation button (1+), the speed limit for the pit lane and the radio button are arranged.
Hamilton has also decided to place the K1 button (to activate the electric motor boost) on the front.
Another interesting detail is the arrangement of the controllers for the differential, the motor brake and the brake balance. These settings correspond to the layout, which Hamilton was used to in Formula 1 until the end.
The rotary control for the entrance differential is located in the top left, while the high-speed differential (HS for High Speed) was placed at the top right.
To the left of the display is the “Brake Migration” control to adapt the braking power distribution, on the right is the brake balance check.
A remarkable innovation: Hamilton apparently moved energy management (SOC) to the lower steering wheel area – a positioning that no Ferrari driver has used since 2015.
The display software was also apparently updated to enable a different representation of motor data, tire status and other functions – compared to Leclercs preferred settings.
Before the winter tests in Bahrain, Hamilton spoke about his familiarization with Ferrari and the adaptation of the steering wheel: “It is rare to get in and just fit it,” said the Brit.
“For example, the entire steering wheel control here is completely different from what I am used to. All switches, the software – everything is new to me. I adapt to a car that has been built very differently than what I’ve driven so far.”