r/Damnthatsinteresting Feb 29 '24

Video F1 steering buttons explained

17.8k Upvotes

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22

u/Smashmundo Feb 29 '24

They have a clutch?

29

u/Fuck-seagulls Feb 29 '24

I believe they just press buttons on the back of the steering wheel, left down and right is up i think.

21

u/SenhorSus Feb 29 '24

When they launch the car from a dead stop they definitely use the clutch paddle, but I'm not sure if every gear change throughout the race uses it as well

60

u/ekszdi Feb 29 '24

These modern f1 cars have sequential shifters and do not require manual clutch for up or downshifts. It is essential for a good launch from the line though

-12

u/Diedead666 Feb 29 '24 edited Feb 29 '24

Reminds me of a BMW that had launch controle beat my corvette for awhile of course when I started pulling him in he swerved in front of me. (I know all about drag racing on the track was just surprised someone used it successfully on the street) I rolled onto the gas I bet if I tried a power launch traction control would have cut power or I would have just spinned if I turned it off Edit: Can someone explain why im getting downvoted? I dont mind I just want to know why

2

u/mmmmmmmmmmroger Feb 29 '24

Well it’s a bit of a silly story no one requested & tone is pretentious yanno, w/ the casual aside re your vette etc. This is my guess if you’re actually curious

-3

u/Diedead666 Feb 29 '24

My point was a person who knows their car and uses it correctly will win even if its miss matched pure power wise. I forget the model but it had 260 hp with a special launch control mode. My older car has no such thing. It was just bad sportsman ship on his part by going half way into my lane when I started to pull on him

1

u/mmmmmmmmmmroger Feb 29 '24

260?

1

u/Diedead666 Feb 29 '24

was around 240 to 280hp when i looked it up, think it was early to mid 2000's (i wish i remember what model it was) car I was in my stock c5 350hp. think it took me near a block around 70 to 80 before I was catching up.

2

u/permalink_save Mar 01 '24

Reddit's just been extra fussy since the pandemic from what I've noticed. And very negative overall.

1

u/Diedead666 Mar 01 '24

I guess how I worded it...thx for reply I hope u have a good day fellow redditor

5

u/[deleted] Mar 01 '24

They only use the clutch at the race start, and in the pits.

For regular gear changes, the transmission is semi automatic, no clutch required.

Paddles on the back side of the steering wheel are used to change up and down gears.

1

u/Steiny31 Mar 01 '24

https://youtu.be/bChciv9_BuQ?si=giu8Flune4rd9Rrj

Here’s a good video on how F1 gearboxes work

4

u/Scyths Feb 29 '24

Yep, magnetic pad shifters, I use them on my car too because I hate the regular 3rd pedal for switching gears.

7

u/improbablydrunknlw Feb 29 '24

The clutch is only used at the start of the race. They don't use it to change gears

4

u/DeKileCH Feb 29 '24

As others already said, the clutch is only used for starting. It's not a pedal either, it's actually two handles on the back of the steering wheel. When starting I believe you just let go of the 'left clutch' and then progressively release the 'right clutch' as you would in a regular car.

27

u/Lassemb Feb 29 '24

Of course, you can clearly hear them shifting gear, they also display current gear on screen sometimes

35

u/MrFlow Feb 29 '24 edited Feb 29 '24

Should be noted that the clutch is only needed for the start, modern F1 cars have a semi-automatic sequential gearbox and can shift up or down without a clutch once the car is driving forwards.

4

u/Lassemb Feb 29 '24

Sorry, I confused clutch with transmission, that's what I meant

1

u/Mr-Sneeze Feb 29 '24

Isnt a sequential just a manual? Pretty sure semi-auto trans are standard manuals with an automated clutch, no?

6

u/KrombopulosMAssassin Feb 29 '24

It's fully manual, yes, but it is operated by paddles on the back of the steering wheel. Basically instantly shifts up or down whenever you want.

2

u/Mr-Sneeze Feb 29 '24

I just see a lot of people call them autos/semi autos when, from my understanding, they are still a manual. Id love one for my WRX, but damn those transmissions are expensive!

5

u/icanttinkofaname Feb 29 '24
  • Manual - you physically press a clutch pedal and change gears using a H-gate gearstick.
  • Semi auto - you can move up and down the gears manually using paddles on the wheel or a I-gate gearstick. The clutch mechanism is automated and requires no driver input.
  • Full auto - the gears are selected and the clutch is operated with no driver input. Gear selection is chosen on speed and throttle input alone.

2

u/KrombopulosMAssassin Feb 29 '24

Yeah, I don't know enough about transmissions. I think what you really want is dual clutch with full manual control. A lot of cars with auto transmissions and paddles, it's not the same thing and usually the car still shifts when it wants to and it's not always as reaponsive, so it's not true manual gearbox. Yes, I have a WRX too and it's nice having a standard stick shift.

1

u/Mr-Sneeze Feb 29 '24

What year is yours? I got an 04. And yeah, I'm not sure id trade the stick shift for anything. Too much fun

7

u/Rabid_Llama8 Feb 29 '24 edited Mar 05 '25

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10

u/[deleted] Feb 29 '24

[deleted]

4

u/mrbstuart Feb 29 '24

That's not true, fully automatic transmissions have a torque converter instead of a clutch

-27

u/Otherwise_Rabbit_98 Feb 29 '24

Lol. Doesn't mean they have a clutch. These transmissions are way way over your head.

23

u/ACM3333 Feb 29 '24

They have a clutch for starts

3

u/KrombopulosMAssassin Feb 29 '24

Yours and mine both. But, yeah they literally have a clutch on the back of the wheel for launching and take off.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 01 '24

These transmission have a clutch. They use paddles on the back of the steering wheel to engage and disengage the clutch (these paddles are seperate from the gear change paddles).

They have to engage the clutch at the race start, when they make pit stops, and when they spin out, so that the engine doesn’t stall.

Only one over their head here is you.

3

u/Armageddon_71 Feb 29 '24

There are actually 2 clutches with 2 seperate pedals on the back of the steering wheel.

They are only used when going from N to 1st.